Alderman Mark Bonne of Rockford’s 14th Ward has noticed a rising trend he believes is reshaping the city’s commercial landscape, the rapid expansion of self-storage facilities. With a quick search of “self-storage” on Google Maps revealing clusters of warehouses near popular business corridors like East State Street, Bonne voiced his concern: “We seem to have... this proliferation, this flood of self-storage.”

According to Bonne, the appeal of these businesses lies in their profitability and simplicity. “It’s a low maintenance, high return business model at a time when it’s expensive to build and develop,” he explained.

Zoning Laws Under Scrutiny

Under current zoning laws, self-storage businesses are permitted to operate in C-3 and C-4 zones — areas designated for heavy commercial activity. This means that with special use permits, they can set up shop in high-traffic corridors, often near neighborhoods. Residents, however, have raised concerns about the aesthetic impact of these facilities.

A recent resolution from the Code and Regulation Committee recommended keeping existing laws intact, but Bonne challenged the decision. His motion to reconsider passed narrowly in an 8-6 vote, allowing the City Council to authorize a text amendment. This amendment would eliminate the special use permit option for self-storage businesses in commercial zones, restricting them to industrial areas without needing special approval.

Preserving Valuable Commercial Space

Bonne was joined by Alderman Karen Hoffman of the 8th Ward, who also supports the change. Hoffman emphasized the importance of reserving prime commercial space for businesses that contribute more vibrantly to the local economy and tax base.

“You don’t want to give up that space now when you could rebuild it,” Hoffman said. “You will have killed it with self-storage.” Both Hoffman and Bonne argue that the city should prioritize long-term community growth over short-term convenience.

Simplifying Future Debates

Alderman Chad Tuneberg of the 3rd Ward, who was initially hesitant about imposing restrictions, eventually supported the measure. He noted that the amendment could make future zoning decisions more straightforward for current and future councils.

Bonne also recalled a recent zoning debate over converting a former Kmart on East State into a storage facility. “You would have to convince the council to rezone that property... That makes the debate much clearer,” he said, indicating how the new rule would streamline such decisions.

Looking to Other Cities for Inspiration

Bonne referenced other municipalities taking similar actions. In June, Prattville, Alabama, enacted a one-year moratorium on self-storage construction while reviewing its zoning policies. “They don’t want to be known as the self-storage capital of their state,” Bonne remarked. “I don’t want Rockford to be known as having self-storage on every corner.”

With the Council's reversal on Monday, the proposal now moves forward. The Zoning Officer will file the text amendment for review by the Zoning Board of Appeals, after which the Code and Regulation Committee will vote. The City Council will then make the final call on whether to adopt or deny the change.