U-Haul Withdraws Application to Open Business in Plymouth
The Plymouth City Council and U-Haul disagreed on the number of vehicles that would be allowed in front of the building on the proposed site near Highway 169.
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A proposal by U-Haul to remodel the former DHL Shipping building ended up being withdrawn during the Jan. 8 Plymouth City Council meeting.
Amerco Real Estate Company, on behalf of U-Haul, had initially submitted a request for a conditional use permit, variances and a site plan amendment for a truck and trailer rental operation at the former DHL Shipping location at 1225 Highway 169.
According to Plymouth Community Development Director Steve Juetten, the building/site has been vacant for about 18 months.
The Plymouth Planning Commission met on the request on Dec. 5, 2012 and voted unanimously to approve the request, with the landscaping conditions, according to documents provided to the Plymouth City Council.
The matter was then forward to be heard by the council at their Jan. 8 meeting.
After discussions with the applicant and among the council, U-Haul decided to withdraw its application.
“Although no decision by the council was made, at the time the applicant withdrew his application he had stated that he needed approval to allow 25 to 30 vehicles [in front] and the city council was considering a variance to allow 10,” Juetten wrote in an email to Patch.
The applicant said they were looking for full council support on the application and allowing only 10 vehicles to be in front of the building would not work.
“To make it easier, we’ll just withdraw our application and move forward to another development – and, I’m sorry,” a Amerco Real Estate Company told the council. “It just doesn’t work for us with 10 vehicles.”
Several council members expressed disappointment at U-Haul’s decision not to work with the city about the request.
“I’ve never had a developer stand up, withdraw an application and walk away. We refer them to staff, they come back and look at other opportunities,” Plymouth Mayor Kelli Slavik said.
If U-Haul should decide to submit a new application, the process would start over with the city.
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SHARE: What would you like to see go in the former DHL Shipping building? Share your thoughts in comments.
Dave Haas
9:28 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I think it is interesting that the applicant withdrew without discussion, unless they felt that further discussion would not get them any closer to an agreement. A difference of 15 vehicles is big, but they should be able to find common ground. A couple of things stick out though, 1) Every UHaul store I've ever seen has 10+ vehicles in front of it at most times - unless it's the end of a month weekend. 2) There has to be more to the lack of williness to negotiate - did they get the sense from the planning commission, staff or someone in council that 10 was the magic number?
Sad to see a business leave Plymouth - council should drive that stretch of 169 and realize it is not "green space" it is industrial - so 10 - 25 u-hauls isn't going to "hurt" the liviability standard.