BRUNSWICK
Plans for a self-storage facility may fall through after the town council on Monday voted to table a request from the planning board and a developer to rezone a piece of property near Cook’s Corner.
Town planners and board members were making the request to the council on behalf of developer Theodore Crooker, who wants to build a high-end self-storage facility there that would service nearby trailer parks.
Crooker is seeking the zoning change to allow a greater amount of impervious coverage than allowed under present zoning conditions. Impervious coverage refers to areas covered by material such as concrete or asphalt.
Planning Board Chairman Charlie Frizzle told the council that the parcel on Crooker’s property has been on the market for several years, and that there was no reason to make Crooker wait, now that someone has shown interest in developing the self-storage facility there.
Developing the property will benefit the town in the form of taxes, Frizzle said, and noted that the proposal is consistent with the comprehensive plan adopted by the town in 2008.
No citizens voiced complaints with the recommended changes at two public hearings held by the planning board, said Frizzle.
The site is a wedged-shaped piece of land, bordered by Route 1 to the south and bisected by Old Bath Road. The site is designated as a Mixed Use zone.
The larger, western portion would be designated as a Cook’s Corner commercial zone. A smaller, eastern portion would be part of the Country Residential zone.
The change was supported by Rachel Lounder, who lives in the area and operates a towing business there.
Several councilors voiced concerns about “unintended consequences” of the zoning change. Councilor Sarah Brayman noted the change would increase a building’s maximum allowable footprint from 10,000 to 50,000 square feet.
“A Home Depot could move in there,” said Councilor John Perreault.
“Theoretically,” Frizzle replied.
Some councilors noted the proposal preempts plans for rewriting zoning throughout Brunswick, a process that is ongoing and would consolidate many smaller, separate zoning districts.
“That whole process loses credibility,” said Councilor Jane Millett, regarding the zoning overhaul.
Currently, impervious coverage is limited to 20 percent of the area. Under Crooker’s proposal, up to 80 percent of the property could be subjected to impervious coverage.
Under preliminary zoning rewrites, the impervious coverage area allowed would increase to 50 percent, according to Planning Director Anna Breinich.
The council will hold another hearing Aug. 4 on permitting 50 percent impervious coverage.
Crooker said he doubted if he could go forward with the project if impervious coverage is limited to 50 percent.
“You could be driving these buildings right out of here,” said Crooker. “You might have taken this out. You’re going to drive the cost up.”
The request
TOWN PLANNERS and board members were making the rezoning request to the council on behalf of developer Theodore Crooker, who wants to build a high-end self-storage facility near Cook’s Corner that would service nearby trailer parks.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less