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Council refers self‑storage ordinance amendment to planning board, schedules public hearing
Summary
An applicant seeking to expand a self‑storage facility asked the council to amend zoning to allow self‑storage in AR zoning and to permit larger expansions; council voted to refer the proposal to the planning board for July 27 and to set an August public hearing while solicitors and planners noted the need to define objective special‑use criteria.
An attorney speaking for Prime Properties explained that the property owner seeks an amendment to zoning (chapter 32, section 32‑55) to explicitly permit self‑storage in AR zoning and enable a special‑use permit for a substantial expansion at 130 Franklin Street, including use of parking areas.
Councilors and the town solicitor discussed legal mechanics: the planning board should evaluate objective criteria for special‑use permits (so the town does not inadvertently allow an unlimited expansion by omission) and public hearings must be scheduled to satisfy state advertising requirements. The solicitor and applicant agreed the planning board would review studies and make recommendations and that the council would hold a public hearing in August after the planning board’s July 27 consideration.
Why it matters: Amending zoning to allow and define self‑storage expansion could enable a significant redevelopment of the Franklin Street site and shift where such facilities are permitted across multiple zones; the planning board’s review will determine the standards attached to any special permit.
