When Mayor Nikuyah Walker asked about affordable housing units, Justin Shimp, of Shimp Engineering, said the site is below the threshold under city rules.

“As it is, we don’t trip the affordable housing number,” Shimp said.

“So, is it your intention as a developer to include affordable housing in the project?” Walker asked.

“Well, I’d say at the moment, it’s near all market-based housing,” Shimp said.

“It is a concern that there isn’t affordable housing in this project,” Councilor Kathy Galvin said, adding that planned form-based code changes would include a requirement for affordable units with requests for increased height.

Galvin also expressed disappointment in a development on a site zoned for industrial uses not contributing more to the city’s workforce. The self-storage company is expected to employ fewer than 10 people in full- and part-time jobs.

“I think in the future, with these industrial sites, we have to be much more proactive and much more aggressive as a government to ensure that some of these sites are actually going to be making job opportunities for career-ladder positions for the underserved in our community,” she said. “Five jobs is not making a dent in our people’s economic prospects. … This is an underutilization of this site.”

Although Galvin gave the development a tentative yes, Walker said she would not vote in favor of the special-use permit.

“… We’re at the fact that just because affordable units are not required — even though you’re seeking a special-use permit — just the fact that it doesn’t trip it, that you wouldn’t find a way to include it or have that conversation with the councilors about it — it seems that because of the support, we don’t necessarily have to — but I’m not going to support the project because I think that is irresponsible for any developer at this time to not figure out a way to include affordable housing units,” Walker said.

Councilor Wes Bellamy was among those who were in favor of the development, which could kick off a reshaping of the industrial area along the Rivanna River.

“I feel this project could potentially change the landscape of the neighborhood and, I think, in that particular corridor,” he said. “Something like this is very much so needed.”

The motion to approve included a stipulation that the apartment building resemble the rendering submitted to the council. Galvin included the condition after citing instances when completed buildings did not resemble what was submitted for approval.