A big crowd of Covington residents is really against a new storage facility planned for their neighborhood, and they voiced their concerns at a heated meeting with local leaders and the storage company’s rep. Even though the area is zoned for commercial use, city and county officials are now trying to halt the proposal after hearing all the pushback from the community.
Here are the highlights:
- About 100 residents attended a meeting regarding a proposed consolidated storage facility in Covington neighborhoods.
- Residents expressed anger and opposition to the storage proposal during the meeting.
- The area has been zoned for commercial use since the 1970s, but intended local stores never materialized.
- City and county officials agreed to collaborate to oppose the storage proposal, despite it being allowed by right.
- A recent county bill limits future storage facilities to industrial zones but does not affect existing applications.
- County Councilmember Ingrid Watson is working to exclude the current proposal from proceeding under the new law.
- The city formally requested that the county halt the Elder Oaks storage proposal.
- Residents noted the growing popularity of self-storage facilities in the region.
- Consolidated storage is a fast-growing business with high demand and low overhead.
- Storage facilities do not contribute significantly to local economic development or foot traffic.
- Another storage facility proposal behind Harris Teeter is moving forward and is harder to contest.
- Even if the storage proposal is halted, other commercial developments could still occur in the area.
- The county will need to address legal implications following the city’s request regarding the storage proposal.
- Residents are encouraged to contact County Councilmember Ingrid Watson for further involvement.
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Consolidated storage fights
Roughly 100 residents of the Covington neighborhoods of Bowie attended an occasionally fiery meeting with representatives from a local storage company, as well as HOA, city, and county leaders.
Following a presentation from an attorney for the consolidated storage company, residents asked questions and expressed anger at the proposal, set for the 3600 block of Elder Oaks Boulevard and Excalibur Road.
City Planning Director Joe Meinert described the area in question as zoned for commercial use since the 1970s. When the Covington neighborhood was first built, the commercial area was intended for local stores serving the community, which never materialized. The area sat as green space for decades.
After hearing considerable resident opposition, city and county officials agreed to work together to try and stop the proposal, an uphill battle as the area in question allows consolidated storage by right.
A recent county bill limiting future storage facility proposals to industrial, rather than commercial, zones, did not pause existing storage applications. County Councilmember Ingrid Watson, who attended the meeting, agreed to work to try and exclude this particular proposal from proceeding under the new county law.
The city sent a letter to the county following the community meeting formally requesting the Elder Oaks storage proposal not move forward.
Several residents at the meeting inquired about the popularity of self-storage, noting that new storage facilities are popping up all throughout the region.
Consolidated storage has become a fast-growing business, driven by high demand. Storage facilities average 90 percent capacity, enjoy low overhead, and are considered economically resilient during periods of uncertainty, labor shortages, and supply chain challenges. Commercial property owners prevented from building residential are more and more turning to consolidated storage as an alternative.
The trade off from a local economic development perspective is they don't add much to their immediate areas, don't generate useful foot traffic to support local retail, and can be less attractive than alternative uses.
Another storage facility proposed for the space behind Harris Teeter at Marketplace where residential apartment units were originally intended is moving forward and will be harder to fight. This storage application well predated county action and is by-right, meaning city input is limited.
Covington residents and local leaders discussed the fact that because the area is zoned for commercial activity, even if the storage doesn't move forward, other development could still take place.
Following the city letter to the county formally requesting storage not be permitted at the Covington location, it will be up to the county to adjust their current storage bill and handle any legal fallout from the applicant.
Residents interested in pursuing the matter with the county council are encouraged to reach out to County Councilmember Ingrid Watson at iswatson@co.pg.md.us.