New self-storage proposed for North Vallejo

by John Glidden | glid24@protonmail.com | October 23, 2025

VALLEJO – A 1,000-unit indoor self-storage facility may be coming to North Vallejo soon.

The applicant, DXD Capital, is proposing a new 4-story, 137,318-square-foot self-storage facility on 2.20-acres near the intersection of Lewis Brown Drive and Sonoma Boulevard. No outdoor storage nor hazardous material storage is being proposed.

The city’s Design Review Board got the public’s first look at the proposed development during an October 9 meeting. The board signed off on several design-related elements of the project, along with finding that signage associated with the project is in line with the city’s general plan.

The board’s “approval” of the design elements serves as recommendations. The project next moves on to the city’s Planning Commission for official approval. It’s not immediately known when the Planning Commission will review the project.

Currently, the site houses a 20,524 square-foot single-story commercial building located adjacent to Lewis Brown Drive, and one 7,736 square-foot single-story commercial building at the rear along Commercial Street.

“The larger structure most recently housed a furniture store, with the smaller structure being occupied by an auto parts retailer who also used open space on both parcels to store various automobiles,” according to a staff report.

During the October 9 meeting, Board member Jamiah Adams asked about what was being done to prevent the unsheltered from living in the storage units.

 “Here in Vallejo, we have a challenging unhoused issue,” she said from the dais.

Senior city planner, Robert Busick, assigned to the project, said a condition of approval states that no one will be allowed to live in the units.

“There are provisions in place to restrict habitation of the units,” he explained to the board.

Adams also asked if a Coast Redwood tree, located at the rear of the site, can be moved safely. Currently, staff is recommending that the tree be fully removed.

Busick said the tree is quite large and its roots will no doubt be impacted when a building on site is torn down to make room for the new structure.

“The tree is located currently in an area that is proposed to be part of the bioretention basins as part of the required stormwater management for the proposal,” he also explained.

Plans include the installation of 51 trees as part of the landscaping design.

Meeting notes

The five-person commission was down to three members: Matt Kennedy, (Chair), Michael Eli, and Jamiah Adams, during the October meeting.

Toward the end of the October 9 meeting, Adams asked about the other two members. Planning Manager Cesar Orozco said that Board Member Daniel Gordon resigned after accepting an overseas job, while the city is having difficulty reaching Board Member Oskar Lugtu.

“Commissioner Lugtu hasn’t replied,” Orozco told the board. “The next step is getting the city clerk involved and reaching out to him and seeing if he’s still interested and reminding him of the attendance policy.”

Orozco further said it is up to city clerk to remove Lugtu or figure out a plan, so he can stay on the board.