By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Every homeowner knows there is simply never enough storage space.

Developers Mark Lopez and Keith Harnum apparently agree. Both propose to construct storage facilities off Route 302 in West Bridgton. The Bridgton Planning Board Tuesday night via Zoom deemed Lopez’s Mountain Road Storage application complete, and scheduled a public hearing on the plan for Jan. 19. 

Meanwhile, the board felt some items were missing in Harnum’s application, which representative Dustin Roma, PE, of DM Roma Consulting Engineers of Windham plans to submit immediately, thus placing the project back in front of planners this month.

Jeff Amos, PE, of Terradyn Consultants of New Gloucester outlined the Mountain Road Storage project as follows:

• The project site is about 19.7 acres, located adjacent to Sportshaus, bordering North High Street and Mountain Road. The site is located in the “mixed use corridor district,” which allows self-storage facilities.

• Lopez is proposing to create a commercial subdivision that will include a self-storage/outdoor storage facility on the largest lot. There is no specific development plan for the outparcel, but the developer plans to create a shared stormwater system.

• The storage facility will be accessed by a new driveway off North High Street. The four storage units will total 11,600 square feet, and also include 80 outdoor storage spaces that can be used for boat and RV parking in the offseason. The main drive aisles are proposed to be paved while the parking spaces (ranging in size from 14-feet by 35-feet to 14-feet by 45-feet) will mainly feature a gravel surface, but 18 of the large spaces will be paved. The development will be enclosed by a black chain-link fence and a lockable gate.

• A series of 13 trees will be planted along the street frontage and to the west of the proposed buildings to break up the view.

• There will be no rental office onsite, so no water or sewage facilities will be needed. The facility will be run as part of Lopez’s Bridgton Storage and Consignment, located at 293 Portland Road in Bridgton.

Fire Chief Tom Harriman called for inclusion of a Knox box for codes or keys to any gated areas for emergency 24-hour access to the storage complex, and fire extinguishers be mounted and accessible for each storage unit.

Planners unanimously ruled the application complete, but then debated whether a public hearing should be held. 

“Given how public hearings have gone,” Greg Watkins felt a hearing isn’t necessary. Planners Ken Gibbs and Mike Figoli felt a hearing enabled the town to cover all its bases. Gibbs said interested citizens could learn more about the project, while Figoli felt that since a second public notification wasn’t done regarding Tuesday’s project consideration (certified notification to abutters were sent prior to the pre-application meeting, and a second notice is not required), he felt a publicized hearing could prevent issues down the road.

Planners voted 4-1 (Watkins a no vote) on holding the public hearing, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. viz Zoom (link available on the town’s website).

Planners did credit Lopez and Amos with a “well done application” which was “easy to comprehend and thorough.”

Lopez appreciated planners “keeping things rolling especially in this environment.”

Storage units, phase 1

Keith Harnum could possibly pursue a two-phase development plan for the 24-acre lot, located at the intersection of North High Street and Knights Hill Road, directly across from Mountain Road.

Phase 1 calls for construction of about 30,800 square feet of self-storage units on five acres, while Phase 2 calls for development of a 10-unit residential condominium project on the remaining 19 acres.

Roma was before planners Tuesday to talk about Phase 1 only. In the Stark Storage Facility application, Roma outlined:

• The storage units will be fenced and include an automated gate. The project calls for construction of four buildings, totaling about 30,800 square feet, along with outdoor parking area measuring 40-feet by 530-feet for seasonal storage parking (trailers, boats, RVs). The site will be accessed from North High Street, via a new 24-foot wide paved driveway. The units will be single-story with roll-up overhead doors. Siding will be tan/stanstone color while roof trim and doors will be dark green. “This color scheme and stone-base course (a stone veneer along the bottom of the building at the end portions that face North High Street) blends into the natural surroundings well and provides a pleasant view from the street and abutting properties,” the application states.

• Lighting will be mounted on the buildings, along with a small light at the keypad entry. The site will be secured via a chain-link fence.

• The front 75 feet along Route 302 will be landscaped and/or maintained as natural forested area.

• The project will require a stormwater permit from Maine DEP. “At this time, we do not anticipate that the project will impact any wetland areas,” the application states.

• There will be a free-standing sign adjacent to the driveway.

• Construction schedule, spring 2021 and completed within six months of building start.

Planners deemed the application “incomplete” and gave Roma a grocery list of information they would like to see including: 

• Stormwater report. Chairwoman Deb Brusini noted that the plan is headed for DEP for a permit, but customarily, planners also receive a copy of the plan to include in their review.

Planner Dee Miller echoed Brusini’s request, “I do think it is helpful to see how things might be graded, how water will flow. So, I’ve always depended on seeing the extent of how things will be done.”

• Pictures or sketches of proposed sign and storage units. Roma said the West Bridgton facility will be like the applicant’s existing storage complex in Windham. Planners also want a clearer description regarding lighting features.

• Other information sought — how ADA guidelines are addressed, comment on whether septic use is needed.

If missing items are submitted immediately, the project could be on the next agenda, Jan. 19 or land on the Feb. 2 agenda.

In his impact statement, Fire Chief Tom Harriman called for installation of a Knox box for codes or keys to any gated areas for emergency 24-hour access to the storage complex, and fire extinguishers be mounted and accessible for each storage unit.

Subdivision revisions

Planners closed out their agenda by giving tentative approval (they will sign off the finding of facts at the next board meeting) to Justin McIver of Main Eco Homes for subdivision amendments on Harmon Road and Eco View Estates.