BERNARDSTON — For the second time on Thursday, the Planning Board continued its public hearing regarding a proposed self-storage facility, asking a representative to get some answers from the Las Vegas company applying for the necessary special permit.
Wetland and soil scientist Christopher Guida, of Fieldstone Land Consultants, was tasked with asking Patriot Holdings LLC specifics about sign verbiage and illumination as well as climate-control capabilities before the hearing’s continuation at 6 p.m. in Town Hall on Feb. 17.
Patriot Holdings LLC plans to build 10 metal self-storage buildings at 107 and 111 Northfield Road (Route 10). According to Planning Board Chair Christina Slocum-Wysk, the lots are between the Dollar General store and The Heirloom Collective marijuana grow facility in the town’s Expedited Permitting District. The buildings would span a total of 39,975 square feet on roughly 8.5 acres.
The site plan, which can be viewed at bit.ly/3rQ3xpf, has already been approved by the Conservation Commission, Slocum-Wysk previously explained, with the understanding that construction won’t impact stormwater drainage.
This facility would be the second self-storage facility in town, joining Bernardston Self Storage on Deacon Parker Road, near the Gill town line.
Guida explained the proposed new facility’s sign would be internally lit and much of Thursday’s discussion pertained to figuring out how to prevent the illumination from being overwhelming to locals. Guida referenced billboards illuminated so bright they are practically blinding, and Planning Board member John Lepore said that is what he is concerned about.
“That’s not going to be it,” Guida replied.
Lepore said he wants to know how many lumens the sign will give off, meaning how bright the sign will be. He said a sign that is too bright could be hazardous to drivers and a nuisance to neighbors. Alternate member Chuck Mielke said this question should be answered before a special permit is issued to prevent the company from having to remove a sign after installation.
The sign would be illuminated with LED lights, which Planning Board member Rawn Fulton said are silent. Lepore recommended a light that can be dimmed if neighbors complain.
Fulton asked Guida what the facility would be called to be differentiated from sites elsewhere, such as Keene, N.H.
“Dollar General doesn’t call it ‘The Bernardston Dollar General,’ it says ‘Dollar General’ on the storefront,” Slocum-Wysk chimed in.
Mielke mentioned the site plan features a rendering of an All-Purpose Storage sign, with the word “Keene” and the deliberately fake phone number of 222-333-4444 underneath it.
“If it’s going to have a name of a town, it should say ‘Bernardston,’” Fulton said.
“Or nothing at all,” Mielke added.
Slocum-Wysk said the company wants customers to know where its main office is, and Fulton said that information can be listed below the New Hampshire phone number. Slocum-Wysk then said the Planning Board needs to know exactly what will be on the sign.
“I think it’d be confusing if it said ‘Keene,’” Fulton said, to which Lepore agreed.
Guida also mentioned the site plan has added native trees — none of which are on the state’s list of prohibited plants — to the buffer area along Northfield Road.
When asked if the Conservation Commission approved mowing in that area, Guida said the topic was not discussed but he anticipates there would be mowing roughly once a year “so that you don’t have a forest growing back up.”
Slocum-Wysk mentioned this facility would not create any jobs, which is why the Expedited Permitting District was created. She also said she wants to find out from the Board of Assessors how much tax revenue this facility would generate. She also asked Guida to find out if the units would be climate-controlled.
Guida noted the facility would also be indirectly beneficial to the town, as companies can store their supplies and equipment in the units.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.