Here's something you don't usually hear: "We're full, and we have 20 people waiting."
That's the situation at Hastings Mini Storage - the climate-controlled facility inside the strip mall next to Coborns at 275 33rd Street West. And that's exactly why owner Nick Anderson just got approval to build a second building.
The Planning Commission gave it the green light on January 27th. Unanimous vote. Now it heads to City Council on February 2nd for final approval.
A new 14-15,000 square foot climate-controlled storage building in the parking lot. One story, interior hallways - it won't look like those typical orange-door storage units you see everywhere else.
Think: 75-100 new storage units, mostly smaller sizes like 5x10 and 10x10.
Here's the thing - Hastings actually has plenty of traditional drive-up storage around town. But climate-controlled? That's the gap. And that's what people keep calling about.
Anderson told commissioners that Hastings has about 10 square feet of storage per person (that's the "stabilized market" sweet spot), but almost none of it is climate-controlled. Most calls? Apartment renters looking for a little extra space that's heated and cooled.
Yep. About 65% of that strip mall is already climate-controlled storage - 75 units that were approved back in 2021. This is technically an "amended special use permit" because they're adding to what's already there.
The strip mall also has Snap Fitness and a dance studio. Fun detail: Anderson and his partner are actually in the process of buying the Snap Fitness franchise too, so the gym's staying put.
Anderson bought the whole strip mall back in August 2025. He and his partner run the storage operation, and they hit 100% capacity fast. Instead of jacking up rates on the waiting list, they kept prices the same and decided to expand.
This is where it gets real.
Planning Commission approval was step one - they voted to recommend it. But City Council has final say. That meeting happens February 2nd at the City of Hastings.
What are they approving exactly? The use of the space. Can this location have climate-controlled storage? Does it fit with the commercial district? Any conditions on how it operates?
Here's what won't be decided yet: the actual building design, engineering details, landscaping, lighting, traffic patterns. All of that comes later in a separate site plan approval - which would also go back through Planning Commission and City Council.
Anderson was smart about this. He wanted to get the use approved first before dropping money on architecture fees and engineering plans. No point designing a building if the city says no to the concept.
Commissioners asked good questions.
One asked about security - especially since there are townhomes south of the property. Anderson walked through their setup: keypad access with unique codes for each tenant (codes get automatically deleted when someone moves out), brand new LED lighting in the parking lot, and security cameras. He mentioned that lighting is actually the biggest crime deterrent according to local law enforcement - nobody wants to be seen doing something they shouldn't.
Another commissioner asked if there were any issues with the original 2021 storage permit. Answer: no complaints, no problems. The new permit wouldn't change anything about the existing storage operation - just add on top of it.
The parking situation came up too. There's a joint parking agreement between the strip mall, Coborns, and Crossroads Church that covers the whole area. The agreement says they can use up to 54 parking spaces for other development. This project stays within that limit.
And yes, someone asked the obvious question: could this building eventually be converted to something else? Anderson said sure - it's just a building with interior hallways. It wouldn't look like traditional storage from the outside.
Climate-controlled storage isn't just about keeping your stuff dry. It's heated and cooled - protection from Minnesota's 100-degree summers and sub-zero winters. That's why it's different from the standard mini storage along Glendale Road in the industrial park.
Those non-climate facilities? Allowed in industrial zones. But in commercial districts like this strip mall area, the city only permits climate-controlled by special use permit. The code maxes out at 20,000 square feet per site to avoid turning commercial areas into storage complexes.
This project would bring the total to about 25,000 square feet - but since it's on the same property as the existing storage, it falls under the amended permit.
If City Council approves the special use permit on February 2nd, Anderson comes back with a full site plan. That's where residents would see:
That site plan would go back through Planning Commission review and then City Council again for final-final approval. Only then does construction start.
Timeline? Could be months. These things take time.
When a local business owner has a 20-person waiting list and decides to expand instead of price people out, that's worth noting. And when a Shakopee guy buys a Hastings strip mall, keeps the gym open, and invests in new facilities? That's local business growth playing out in real time.
We've been covering similar developments across Dakota County - businesses responding to actual demand in their communities.
City Council meets February 2nd. We'll update you right after the vote.
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