Planning board approves 400-sq-ft leasing office for Bateau Place self-storage; septic and utility coordination required

The City of Rome Planning Board on July 1 unanimously approved a site plan for a 400-square-foot leasing office for a self-storage property at 2016 Bateau Place, submitted by IRE LLC and represented by Matt Coogan of Druelic Construction. The board’s approval was for the site plan as presented; the applicant must still obtain all required permits and coordinate with city departments for utilities and septic approval.

Matt Coogan told the board the property has four storage buildings with roughly 150 units and that the proposed 400-square-foot office will be staffed by a single employee. The plan includes three parking spaces — one accessible and two standard — an access aisle and a concrete walkway; one unisex restroom is shown inside the office. Coogan said the office will rely on an on-site septic/leach-field design because the nearest municipal sewer is on Erie Boulevard and running a lateral was considered infeasible.

Coogan described preliminary septic details: a percolation test that "perked at 6 inches, and I believe it was 30 minutes per inch," and a leach-field/percolation-bed layout with an approximate 34-foot percolation-bed length, a 3-foot bed width and an overall mound area described as about 50 by 20 feet with two lateral runs. He said the design team has discussed the location with city water and sewer staff and expects to pursue health-department approval for the septic system; the board indicated the applicant must secure those approvals before building permit issuance.

City planning staff advised the board that projects under 4,000 gross square feet qualify as Type II actions for SEQR and require no further environmental review; staff found the site plan compliant with zoning and recommended approval. Staff also reminded the applicant to coordinate with the city water department during construction because of a nearby underground waterline.

Board members asked practical questions about restroom facilities, parking and trash service. Coogan said trash is handled through the city trash program and that dumpsters are brought in as needed for unit cleanouts. The applicant said exterior lighting will include a wall-mounted light with battery backup at the entrance and an 18-foot pole light on a 2-foot base (20 feet total). Heating and cooling for the small office will be provided by an electric air-to-air heat pump (likely mini-split).

Chair Mark Esposito called for a motion; the board approved the site plan by unanimous voice vote. Planning staff noted the applicant must obtain municipal and health approvals as applicable before construction begins.