MONROE, CT — A plan to demolish the vacant Taylor Rental building and the house behind it to make way for two 15,000-square-foot self-storage buildings at 515-517 Main St. won Planning and Zoning Commission approval Thursday night. The property is next door to the Starbucks on Route 25.
Thomas Christiano, a representative of T&C Ventures LLC, the owner of the property, has been working with Sara and Thomas Harris, who will be able to see the rooftops of the warehouses from the backyard of their Freedman Lane home, on adding trees to provide more screening.
Nicole Lupo, an alternate on the commission, was among the board members who visited the Harrises’ property. She had expressed concerns over the view from the couple’s backyard during the hearing.
On Thursday night, Lupo was a seated commissioner and cast the lone vote against the application, which was approved 4-1, with acting chairman Bruno Maini, seated alternate Dominic Smeraglino, Ryan Condon and Robert Westlund voting yes.
Among the conditions of the approval is that the roof of the building to the rear and its exterior wall be painted a darker gray than the rest of the building to blend more into the landscape.
During deliberations, Smeraglino asked if the mechanicals will be on the roof, which he said would be more of an “eyesore” for neighbors.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Kathleen Gallagher said the rendering for the buildings does not show mechanicals on the roofs.
The self-storage business will be located in a Special Development District in a Business-1 zone, which will allow the use on the 3.12-acre-property.
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