Glens Falls planning board agrees to rehear Gray Lock self-storage site plan request

Glens Falls Planning Board members voted to grant a rehearing request for the proposed Gray Lock self-storage project at 79 Broad Street after the applicant said it would return with a revised site plan.

The rehearing request was raised by the applicant’s contractor, who said the project’s original conditional approval included planting arborvitae and installing slats in a six-foot chain-link fence that the contractor now says would be cost-prohibitive. The contractor also asked to remove an ornamental fence on the right (west) side of the property and to install an eight-foot vinyl fence along the rear as an alternative to the previously required plantings.

“My name is Mike Baleris, MLB Operations. I’m the general contractor for MCP Properties doing the site development plan for them,” Mike Baleris told the board. Baleris said the development team would submit an updated site plan if the rehearing motion were granted and that he expected to include streetscape improvements — such as architectural stone panels or storefront glass on the building facade — if budget allowed.

Board discussion focused on process and the scope of what a rehearing would allow. Planning staff and members reminded the board that rehearing would not itself change approvals; it simply returns the application to the agenda so the board may consider a new site plan or modifications. Staff noted the project’s prior conditional approval required plantings and fence treatments; the applicant asked to substitute an eight-foot vinyl fence on part of the rear property and remove some front ornamental fencing planned for budgetary reasons.

A board member made a motion that the Glens Falls Planning Board, acting in its review capacity, grant a rehearing under code 220-27 section 13(d) for the applicant identified as Gray Lock Self Storage (MCP Glen Mills Properties), owner of the parcels commonly known as 79, 83 and 85 Broad Street, as previously heard on 02/05/2024. The motion is recorded in the meeting minutes; the applicant said it will return with a new site plan for the board to review.

During public and board remarks, neighbors and members raised visual and streetscape concerns, including the appearance of a metal storage facility at the city entrance on South Street and the need for additional facade treatments. Baleris said the applicant was exploring stone paneling and storefront glass to improve the building’s frontage and that existing storage pods on site would be consolidated or removed.

Staff and board members also discussed enforcement and post-approval oversight during the meeting, including that the city inspects projects and can require corrections or take code-enforcement action where projects deviate from approved plans. Staff said the board can condition approvals to require sign-offs from departments (water/sewer, fire) before projects move forward and that if applicants fail to act on approvals within specified time frames, approvals may lapse.

What happens next: If rehearing is granted (motion recorded at the meeting), the applicant will prepare and submit a revised site plan and related materials, and the board will schedule the matter for a future meeting. The applicant indicated it has not yet appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals and acknowledged that additional approvals may be required before construction.

Votes at a glance: The motion to grant a rehearing was made and recorded in the meeting transcript; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally in the provided excerpt.