Farmington PZC OK's Zone Change For New Self Storage Business

FARMINGTON, CT — The town's top land-use board last week approved a zone change application that will allow for construction of a new, self-storage operation.

The 4-2 vote did come with some concerns, but, ultimately, enough Farmington Plan & Zoning Commission members were assured that their questions were answered.

As a result, the zoning for the site was changed from residential to commercial, with the new rules taking effect within a few weeks.

Proposed by Bulwark LLC, the plan called for the conversion of lots 8120 and 8122 Colt Highway (Route 6) from residential zones to commercial zones, allowing for development of a personal, self-storage facility.

Attorney Robin Pearson, representing the applicants, was on hand May 22 to introduce the project to the PZC, which voted to continue discussions to June 12.

She was also there June 12 to answer any questions from board members.

At the May 22 meeting, some board members expressed worry the proposed four-story facility was too high and plans, since, were downgraded and the building height reduced.

According to Pearson, the parcel is nearly 5 acres on the north side of Route 6.

The building's footprint would be 19,800 square feet, with a two-way entrance/exit driveway to the site.

As for the storage facility building itself, the four-story structure would be 79,200 square feet and house 700 individual storage units of varying sizes, according to architect Mark Dean of Dean Architects.

Dean said the building would include elevators, a rental office and it would have fire sprinklers installed with climate control inside.

Donald Jones of Donald Jones Consulting, who was hired by the applicant, said there will be an on-site manager with office hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

User access to the storage sites, Jones said, would be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

PZC members June 12 were assured that no other operations, such as truck rental operations, would take place at the site.

For the minutes of the June 12 Farmington Plan & Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

From June 7: 'Zone Change Mulled In Farmington For Proposed Storage Building'