On December 22, the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed what the developer of a plan for a multibuilding, self-storage facility on 14.93 acres at 0 to 25 Cranberry Highway will do to make the proposal better suited for special-permit approval.
Petitioner JPF Development’s technical consultant William Madden of GAF Engineering said they’ll be splitting two of the 60-square-foot self-storage buildings into three 30-foot structures to serve customers with small storage needs, and the office building is being redesigned to be smaller.
In answer to concerns expressed by the Zoning panel, the new design plan shows the type of lighting and signage the facility will use: wall-mounted, down-pointing lights and a sign designed to the exact specifications of town bylaw with a light pointing down only on the lettering.
“Lights at every third bay,” Madden said. “Enough for safety purposes and security. I think we are addressing just what you asked us to look at.”
Madden agreed with the board’s calculation that this new plan will reduce the facility’s total square-footage from 47,000 square feet to 42,000 square feet.
Zoning Board member Richard Cutler said he was satisfied with this new information. “Ours will be just a use decision. Site-plan review will get into the nitty gritty,” he said.
The board continued the hearing for purposes of rendering a decision to January 12, 2023.
JPF Development is seeking a special permit for the plan because the proposed use does not fit squarely within the uses allowed in the Industrial Zone under town bylaw.
Madden said at the beginning of the public hearing, in early November, that as the site is across the street from a proposed 208-unit residential housing project currently under construction on the opposite side of Cranberry Highway, JPF Development reasoned that self-storage units for those residents would be a good use of the property.
The Zoning Board of Appeals’ next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 7:15 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way, Rochester.
Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals
By Michael J. DeCicco