Meadowbrook storage facility denied permit for expansion by WM council

Meadowbrook storage facility denied permit for expansion by WM council

Lingering facility conditions cause city officials to

balk at proposal

news@theeveningtimes.com

AWest Memphis storage business wanted to expand into the moving truck rental. The climate-controlled storage facility in the Meadowbrook shopping center applied for a special use permit to provide U-Haul rentals. Moving and storage make great companion services but the West Memphis City Council tabled the application because of a running battle with the company since before it opened.

City Council focused on standing water in the delivery bay at the rear of the building. The city required West Memphis Climate Controlled Storage to install pumps before permission was given to open to the public. Some members of the city panel said the stagnate water problem returned. Members did not want to move forward with permission for another line of business when the operation issue had moved backwards.

Ward two City Councilman James Pulliaum said the business in his district needed to resolve its existing code violations before another special use permit would be considered and suggested a course of action. The standing water made for a mosquito breed- ing ground, presented a health concern and a city code violation. Pulliaum wanted the standing water resolved before considering any additional requests from the business.

“They want a U-Haul place there, but they are not even in compliance,” said Pulliaum. “If you go back there water is standing there and it shouldn’t be.”

Councilwoman Ramona Taylor remembered the city had to get tough on that issue when the business was brand new.

“They agreed to remedy it only after we tabled it last time,” said Taylor. “This request should be tabled until they can comply with the code.”

“Until they get with city planning administration to get this resolved, I move we table this request indefinitely,” said Pulliaum.

The tabling denied the request and put the ball back in the companies court.

“The move to table it indefinitely means it won’t come back up again,” said Mayor Bill Johnson before the vote.

Pulliaum provided a final word clarifying his motive in leading the council to unanimously reject the permit for rental trucks and trailers.

“It’s not that we don’t want business to come; that is not so,” said Pulliaum.

“It’s that you need to comply with the code pointed out the first time and especially when you want to come back and apply for something else.”

Pulliaum wanted the standing water resolved before considering any additional requests from the business.

By John Rech