Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) continued the public hearing for a proposed self-storage facility on Turnberry Lane, off Toddy Hill Road, at its most recent meeting at Newtown Municipal Center on July 7.

P&Z members Dennis Bloom, Corrine Cox, and Gregory Rich, as well as alternate member Brian Leonardi, were present.

The first item on the agenda was Application 22.17 by Barth Builders, for a text amendment to §5.05.300 of the zoning regulations of the Town of Newtown, to add a self-service storage facility in the M-4 Zone.

It was reviewed at the same time as Application 22.18, also by Barth Builders, for a Special Exception and Site Development Plan, for a property located at 8 Turnberry Lane, to permit the construction of a new two-story building for self-storage units and associated parking.

Professional Engineer Brian Baker, of Civil 1 Engineering, started off by noting that at the last meeting there was an overview presentation to the commission about the project.

The meeting he referenced took place on June 16 at Newtown Middle School.

According to those meeting minutes, Hans Barth, of Barth Builders LLC in Newtown, explained that the 44,000 square foot self-storage building would have two levels with a 22,000 square foot building footprint. Both levels would have drive-up access and the units would be temperature controlled.

Baker did the project’s survey mapping and design plans. Baker mentioned that the business would not be open 24/7 and that these types of facilities have low traffic impact.

Geologist Karen Destefanis, of WSP in Shelton, said the project would have no impact on the aquifer.

During the public comment portion of the public hearing on June 16, multiple Newtown residents voiced concerns and wanted to be assured that the facility would not be operating 24/7.

At the subsequent meeting, on July 7, Baker recapped that the property is on Plot 7 of Curtis Corporate Park.

He brought up that they had more discussions about modifications to the height of the building facade and that they made “relatively minor” revisions since they last met with the commission. One revision included updates to the site plans to include additional dimensions to the radiuses of the curves of parking areas.

Another update pertained to the landscaping plan. They are going to replace the proposed evergreen trees in the back to white spruce and eastern red cedar, which are native plantings.

On the topic of updates, Cox said to Baker, “I don’t understand why you have to have that front [height] so high ... it just doesn’t look right.”

Baker replied that it is to “have a presence” for the business.

He added, “The peak of the roof is at 26 feet there, so from the peak of the roof to the top of the building now will be 3 feet 8 inches.”

Bloom asked for them to confirm the hours of operation for the facility.

Baker said that for facilities like this, some are 24/7, but he feels if they run it from 6 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, then those hours “would be more than adequate.”

When the public was invited to participate, a Joal Court resident commented that they felt the building’s sign could be altered to better fit with the nature of the community.

The commission then unanimously voted to approve Application 22.17 and Application 22.18.

For the latter, the following conditions were included: hours of operation will be limited to seven days a week from 6 am to 10 pm, will add additional shielding if lighting is visible from neighboring residential homes and will be dimmed after hours of operation, and will add additional plantings if gaps are found in buffer along residential properties.

The next P&Z meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 21, at 7 pm.

To learn more about the P&Z, visit newtown-ct.gov/planning-zoning-commission.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.