Developer seeks zoning change to allow climate‑controlled self‑storage at 21 Jungle Road

Attorney Jeffrey Avini and representatives for Horizon Storage Group presented petition 25‑26 on Jan. 12, asking the Leominster City Council to amend Section 22‑17 of the city zoning ordinance so that self‑storage becomes a planning‑board special‑permit use in MU‑1 districts rather than being allowed only in industrial zones. Avani said the planning board gave the petition a positive recommendation and that the fire department also reviewed it favorably.

Josh Sullivan, a representative for the developer, described the proposal as a three‑story, Class A, fully climate‑controlled facility with an approximate 35,000‑square‑foot footprint. “This is a class a 100% climatized facility,” Sullivan said, adding that the project would likely include roughly 500–600 units (sizes ranging from 5x5 to 10x25) and employ a small staff. He told councilors that his market analysis shows about “85% of our customers at any facility live within 3 miles” and argued the change would meet local demand without the heavy truck traffic associated with a previously approved distribution center for the parcel.

Councilors raised procedural and policy questions. Councilor David Cormier warned that allowing self‑storage in MU‑1 districts citywide could open the door to similar projects at other MU‑1 parcels and stressed this amendment is not a site rezoning but a city‑wide change to allowed uses. Others asked whether rezoning the parcel to industrial would be preferable; Avani and Sullivan said rezoning the city map would be a longer, more complex process and that the special‑permit approach retains planning‑board review and conditions.

Members of the legal affairs committee and proponents agreed that more information and a subcommittee review would help new committee members and allow staff to provide maps and written materials for the public record. The committee voted to continue the public hearing and scheduled a continued hearing for Jan. 26, 2026 at 6:35 p.m., and requested that the petitioner provide printed materials for committee use.

Next steps: The council left the public hearing open and asked the petitioner to provide the site plans and narrative for the record. The matter will return to the legal affairs committee and the council at the continued hearing on Jan. 26.