Ship Shop, which offers packing, shipping, printing and business services, had requested amending the Planned Development District 13 to allow for the use of U-Haul rentals.
Owner David Sanders had been offering the service for some time, but city staff recognized that the particular type of business was not part of the allowed uses in the Shops at Trophy Club shopping center, which is where Ship Shop is located.
The vote
City staff became aware of the zoning issue when Sanders asked to add large U-Hauls to his business on May 3, 2024. After discovering that was not part of the planned development, Sanders applied for a zoning change on Oct. 16, 2024.
Matt Cox, Trophy Club director of community development said the Planning and Zoning Commission denied the request, 4-2, during a meeting on Dec. 12, 2024.
After a lengthy discussion at the Jan. 13 town council meeting, council members voted against allowing the rental service to continue, 5-2. After the denial by planning and zoning, a supermajority, or six of seven council members, had to approve the zoning request.
According to city officials, a letter had been sent to Sanders to remove the U-Haul trailers within 30 days of the board’s decision.
The background
Sanders said he owned the business for the past six years and started renting U-Haul vehicles in November 2023, not aware a specific zoning was needed to do so.
“It’s nothing more than a service I provide,” he said.
Sanders said that there are U-Haul locations nearby in Roanoke and Grapevine, but his store has rented out trucks or trailers to 578 Trophy Club residents in the time span of a little more than a year. He said the removal of that part of his business will cost the town tax money.
Sanders contended that the U-Haul rentals account for 30% of his business and said he would not be able to survive if the permit was denied. He provided town council with the signatures of 148 people in favor of granting the rezoning and subsequent special use permit.
Quote of note
“I also know this, if we were all considering a planned development, brand new, with frontage property, not one of us would allow [a] truck rental in that,” Place 4 Council Member Rhylan Rowe said.
