Self-storage units approved for Essington Road

Plans for a self-storage business with a retail feature on Essington Road have been approved.

The project at 2100 Essington Road is the next phase of development for the D’Arcy Estate property, which is the location for D’Arcy Motors and where excavation has begun for the future addition of a Hyundai dealership to the Buick and GMC business there now.

The Joliet City Council this week in an 8-0 approved a special use permit needed before construction can begin.

Councilman Larry Hug said the major concern he heard from nearby residents was whether remaining farm acreage on the site could be converted to self-storage units with approval of the special use permit.

About 43 acres remain available for development.

City Planner Jim Torri said additional approvals would be needed from the city if the self-storage operation was to be expanded.

The approved plan includes a 119,238-square-foot climate controlled indoor building, half of which would be two stories in hight. There would be four additional buildings with outside access that would house a total of 875 storage units.

Extra Space Storage is the proposed operator of the self-storage facility.

The plan includes a retail strip mall and possible fast-foot restaurant along Essington Road in front of the self-storage business.

Another self-storage operation, Public Storage, is located east of the site.