Wickes Applies For A Storage Shed

By Andrew Gorosko

The Planning And Zoning Commission (P&Z) has approved an expansion project proposed by Wickes Lumber Company, a lumber and building supplies firm on Swamp Road in Botsford.

In a unanimous vote March 15, P&Z members James Boylan, Robert Poulin, and Anthony Klablonski endorsed the project, which will add a lumber storage shed to Wickes’ 15-acre property at 46 Swamp Road, near Botsford Hill Road. Mike Viozzi is the general manager for Wickes.

Mr Boylan served as P&Z chairman in the absence of Daniel Fogliano. Mr Poulin and Mr Klabonski, who are P&Z alternate members, served as regular members in the absence of other members.

Wickes plans to build a 9,000-square-foot, three-sided storage shed on the northeast corner of its property. The shed will have dimensions of 250 feet by 36 feet. The property is in an M-2 Industrial zone. The site has no wetlands.

The Wickes property is just north of the former Charles Batchelder Company, an abandoned industrial site formerly used as an aluminum smelting facility.

Also, the company plans to build a loading dock on an existing building at the site, plus make various physical improvements at the property.

The site already has two buildings and two sheds.

The improvements planned by the firm will have no adverse effect on the values of nearby properties, according to Wickes.

Following a review of construction plans, the town fire marshal’s office endorsed the project.

Engineer Larry Edwards, representing Wickes, submitted information to the P&Z addressing various issues which had been raised by town staff members in their reviews of the application.

In approving the project, P&Z members decided the construction planned by Wickes is consistent with the town’s M-2 zoning regulations.