A storage unit facility in Wright City will have to nix a planned expansion after its zoning change request was denied by the Wright City Board of Aldermen at their May 22 meeting. 

Reliable Storage, in Wright City, sits behind the MFA gas station on Veterans Memorial Parkway on the west side of the city. 

Currently, the business has a conditional use permit for the three existing storage unit buildings and Owner Matt Fattes was requesting to amend that agreement to add additional storage containers closer to the frontage road. 

The original conditional use permit stipulated that the front of the property would remain commercially zoned and would not include storage containers. 

“He’s asking to build more storage containers to the front,” said Mayor Michelle Heiliger. “The original agreement with the property owner was, the front piece of the property remains commercial, which you are honoring, but you’re asking to still put another set of buildings in the middle.”

Reliable Storage also operates a second facility in Wright City on the North Outer Road of Interstate 70 near the Dollar General. 

Fattes said that while they were asking to expand the storage facility, they still planned to leave property on the frontage road for future development. 

In the past, city officials have been protective of the city’s limited commercially zoned properties, citing a need for development that will generate sales tax revenue, as opposed to more dormant businesses like storage units. 

While the city’s planning and zoning commission did recommend to approve the conditional use permit, board members were not as convinced, with Alderman Ramiz Hakim clearly stating his objections. 

“I was one of the few that voted no at planning and zoning. My hope is that, unfortunately, we vote this down, and continue to allow (Fattes) to fulfill the original conditional use permit and keep the front part of the property, which is highway frontage, to its original recommendation,” said Hakim. 

Aldermen Karey Owens and Kim Arbuthnot echoed those sentiments saying the property was an opportunity for further economic development and they felt the city already had enough storage units. 

Fattes protested, and pointed out that he was unsure of what other businesses would develop there with adjacent properties being occupied by the MFA Oil gas station and the Scott’s Miracle-Gro Plant. 

“We’re going to be one of the nicest looking places on that strip when we’re done,” said Fattes. “So I understand what you’re saying, and that’s why we’re still on a reserve space up front for future development.”

Hakim also pointed out they would be backtracking on previous decisions and moving away from the vision that residents had expressed for what sort of development they would like to see in the area. 

“We just need to stick to our convictions that the people of our town are calling for some amenities, and if we keep, … changing the zoning to just allow for things that are not amenities for our citizens that they’re looking for, then it’s just not the path, in my opinion, that we need to go,” said Hakim. 

He also stressed the need for commercial development in the area since the city does not have funds from utilities since a previous board sold its water rights to the Public Water Supply District No. 2 in St. Charles County.