MILLSTONE – The site plan for a self-storage facility on Route 537 has been approved by the Millstone Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.
On Aug. 23, board members voted 4-2 to grant Central Jersey Storage final site plan approval to construct six buildings to be used for storage on Route 537, west of Interstate 195. Attorney Peter Klouser presented the application.
The board had previously granted Central Jersey Storage a use variance and a bulk variance for the project. Self-storage facilities are not a permitted use under Millstone’s zoning.
The business will be constructed in a commercial zone on Route 537, which representatives of the company testified is most appropriate.
The self-storage facility will total 72,844 square feet and consist of six buildings. One building will be two stories tall and the remaining five buildings will be one story tall.
On the recommendation of a self-storage industry consultant, the business will have a fence and a security gate, require a security code to enter the facility, and have security lighting, security cameras, motion detectors and alarms on each building.
The security fence will be 8 feet tall and mounted lights will be below the fence line. The office will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entry to individuals who rent space will be available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
As a condition of the board’s approval, private security will be directed to the facility within 30 minutes if tenants are present after 10 p.m.
During testimony on the application, concerns were raised by residents of Pine Drive. Lighting, noise and security were cited by the residents as potential issues with the facility.
One resident noted that a self-storage facility already exists in Upper Freehold Township and said another facility is under construction in Jackson, suggesting that multiple similar businesses in a small region might be too many.
No members of the public spoke during the Aug. 23 hearing.
Board Chairman Michael Novellino previously spoke in favor of the business before voting on the use variance and the bulk variance that were granted on May 24.
The chairman cited the applicant’s plan to address potential lighting issues, the planned security for the site and a minimal visual impact created by the business as reasons for voting in favor of the requested variances.
At the Aug. 23 meeting, Novellino and board members Anthony Conoscenti, Andrew Ferrara and Patrick Mostyn voted yes on a motion to grant Central Jersey Storage final site plan approval.
Board members Al Ferro and Steve Morelli, who opposed granting a use variance and a bulk variance to the business, voted no on the motion to grant final site plan approval.
Only a majority of votes were required to approve the final site plan; a minimum of five affirmative votes are necessary for a use variance, which Central Jersey Storage had already received for the self-storage facility.