New Self-Storage Facility to Be Built on Short Beach Rd

Construction on a new 57,120 square-foot self-storage building is expected to begin in the near future along Short Beach Road in after the Planning & Zoning Commission has given the project the green light.

The commission unanimously approved the plans for the proposed new facility — which will sit on a 12.39 acres parcel at 494 Short Beach Road, directly behind the there — at last night's regularly scheduled meeting at the . The parcel is owned by Archie Tracy.

The self-storage facility, once completed, will be valued somewhere between $5 million to $5.5 million dollars, according to Rick Raymond, who addressed the commission at last night's meeting on behalf the project's developer, Anthony V. Giordano & Associates of West Haven.

Raymond also serves as the vice-chairman of the East Haven Planning & Zoning Committee. Raymond recused himself from the commission's table just prior to the discussion and vote on the Short Beach Road project. He then took a seat before the board to answer his fellow commissioners' questions regarding the proposed facility's plans.

And alternate member was appointed to serve in Raymond's place during the agenda item.

The project was granted preliminary approval by the commission in July 2010, and rezoning changes needed for the property have also already been granted, as well.

Prior to their vote commission members, along with new Town Engineer Kevin White, questioned Raymond about the effect the new facility might have on traffic in the area. 

Raymond responded that the new facility, once built, should have a minimal impact on traffic flow.

"There's never been an accident in of this facility," he said of 495 Short Beach Road address.

In addition, Raymond said the state Department of Transportation has given their stamp of approval on the project as well.

"The DOT has no problems with this," he said. "This is a very low volume use for this particular site."

New Town Engineer Kevin White told commission members that since he was coming into the project at such a late stage, he did have a few minor questions and conditions that he wanted to make sure were buttoned up with the developer before construction began on the project.

And so the commission, in its vote to approve the project's plans, made the approval conditional pending that all of White's concerns were addressed.