Worcester County Planning Commission approves Pokemon Storage LLC site plan with waivers, conditions variance from BZA

The Worcester County Planning Commission approved a major site plan for Pokemon Storage LLC in Groton on a voice vote, granting two waivers and conditioning final project approval on a required variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The commission approved requests to waive drip irrigation and to allow a non–hard-surface yard (gravel, shell, or recycled asphalt) in lieu of a paved surface. Planning staff and the applicant said the storage site will retain an existing residence and garage for a neighboring property owner identified in the meeting as "Miss Mary," include an evergreen buffer and a six-foot privacy fence, and rely on nearby water access from an adjacent parcel that has a full-time employee on site.

Nathan Logan, the applicant’s representative, described the proposal as "proposed outdoor storage, R and D, and post storage on the commercial" parcel along Groton Road and confirmed the steel building on the property will be torn down while the house and garage remain. He said existing trees would provide part of the buffer and that the non‑hard-surface yard material could be gravel, shell, or recycled asphalt.

Commission members asked whether the plan fronts on Route 113 and raised the county’s front-yard setback for arterial highways. Commissioners noted the front-yard setback for an arterial highway is 100 feet but that the plan shows approximately 50 feet; the commission conditioned approval on the applicant obtaining a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals for the reduced setback. One commissioner moved to approve the project with that caveat; another moved to grant both waivers. Both motions passed on voice votes; the record did not show an individual roll-call tally.

Planning staff confirmed no other waivers were requested and that the two waivers could be handled together. The commission recorded the approvals and closed discussion by wishing the applicant well and asking that the applicant convey greetings to the neighboring resident referred to as Miss Mary.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to grant two waivers (drip irrigation waiver and waiver allowing non‑hard-surface yard): motion moved and seconded; voice vote passed; individual tallies not recorded. (See actions.) - Motion to approve the site plan conditioned on obtaining a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals for the front-yard setback from Route 113: motion moved and seconded; voice vote passed; individual tallies not recorded. (See actions.)

Background: The approvals allow the applicant to proceed with site development subject to the BZA variance process for the arterial-front setback. The project retains a neighboring residence and garage and includes a six-foot fence and vegetative buffering along property edges. The commission discussed material choices for the lot surface and dust control, and staff noted that the applicant also owns an adjacent parcel with water access that would serve the development.