Hilldrup Moving and Storage is planning another expansion at its Stafford County headquarters due to growth in the company's storage business.

Hilldrup plans to build a 38,000-square-foot, climate-controlled warehouse on the other side of George Mason Road from its headquarters off U.S. 1 in North Stafford.

The company has submitted a rezoning request with Stafford planning officials for the 4.3-acre property, which formerly held a house. The project would probably start next spring after Hilldrup secures the necessary county approvals.

Trucks would access the site from an exit onto George Mason Road at the back of Hilldrup's headquarters, whose main entrance is off U.S. 1 at Corporate Drive. That would keep truck traffic away from the intersection of George Mason Road and U.S. 1. A landscaped buffer would be created between the new warehouse and the homes off Mavel Place, many of which Hilldrup owns for possible future expansion.

Last year Hilldrup added two warehouses at the Stafford headquarters totaling 25,000 square feet. But those are almost full already, said Hilldrup President Charles W. McDaniel, and there is no additional space to expand on the 50-acre property.

That has led Hilldrup to look around Stafford and neighboring Prince William County for additional space to grow. Hilldrup already owns additional warehouse space off U.S. 17 in Stafford and in Fredericksburg's Battlefield Industrial Park, and the company is eyeing land near Stafford Regional Airport. The company prefers to own rather than lease so it can control its costs, McDaniel said.

The need for additional space is due to Hilldrup's growing business storing the possessions of its government and corporate clients. Their employees need a safe place to store their stuff while they are overseas or elsewhere on assignment, said McDaniel, who is the third Charles McDaniel to run the company since the family bought it in 1940 from founder R.G. Hilldrup.

Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com