When considering construction of a self storage facility, there are many things that can be easily overlooked. There is a multitude of laws and requirements that must be adhered to in every commercial construction process. Make sure you have addressed these issues before you start. If you don’t, your construction may come to a screeching halt.
Americans With Disabilities Act
This is a big one. The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 basically states that accommodations must be made in every business so as not to discriminate against people with disabilities. In other words, a self storage facility must be accessible and useable to people with disabilities. This means you must provide ramps, extra-large doors, handles at the correct height, some automatic opening unit doors and more. If you offer public restrooms, there are additional accommodations that are required. Be sure to research and implement these requirements at the start to avoid problems later.
Zoning Laws
Before you choose your land, become acquainted with the zoning laws of each area you are considering. Zoning can cause real headaches for a build in certain places. Depending on the zoning laws in your chosen location, you may be required to design your facade in a particular way, set your building back a specific distance or landscape in accordance with the surrounding areas. In certain circumstances, homeowners associations or interest groups that decide they don’t want your business in their area have filed petitions. Be sure you know what you are getting into before you buy.
Environmental Issues
Obviously, construction of a self storage facility requires a large piece of property. In addition to the land for the buildings themselves is the added property needed for required storm water management. Many facilities have retention or detention ponds for this very purpose. These ponds allow large amounts of water to be collected and dispersed in a controlled manner. This keeps areas downstream from being flooded or eroded. A detention pond remains dry between rains. If a large amount of rain occurs, it holds the water, but the detention pond allows it to drain slowly. A retention pond is a large basin that stays filled with water. It operates the same way as the detention pond but has the added benefit of removing sediment from the water as it is dispersed. Be sure you address your storm water drainage requirement in the planning stage to avoid costly changes.
No Surprises
These are just a few of the things people overlook when considering self storage construction. There are many, many more. The most important thing you can do is surround yourself with knowledgeable people who have the experience necessary to be successful. Learn Self Storage can help with everything from choosing the perfect location to educating you on construction requirements. Don’t try to do this on your own. Contact the experts at Learn Self Storage.