South Windsor OKs 4-story storage facility

Collin Atwood, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·2 min read

Dec. 8—SOUTH WINDSOR — The Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a site plan for a nearly 100,000-square-foot storage facility to be built on 3.5 acres at 249 Ellington Road.

In April the PZC approved a one-year moratorium on applications for warehouses because of public frustration over the noise and traffic and fear of tractor-trailers on suburban streets. The moratorium followed a contentious application to build a 360,000-square-foot warehouse along the nearby Talbot Lane and Governor's Highway that was rejected twice.

This facility is not the same, town officials and developers say.

The applicant for the storage facility, Highland Capital Holdings LLC, said the four-story climate-controlled vertical self-storage facility should never see heavy truck traffic.

"The users of these facilities, 85% of them are homeowners or apartment dwellers, residents who come in here and need some extra storage space in a climate-controlled environment." Peter DeMallie of Design Professionals told the PZC.

Scott Spindler, manager of Highland Capital, said a box truck might drive into the facility about once a month.

DeMallie said the vast majority of traffic coming to the facility would be from cars, SUVs and pickups, but residents would never see a tractor-trailer rig.

Construction of the 99,200-square-foot building is estimated to cost around $7 million, Highland Capital officials said.

DeMallie said these facilities help keep clothes, paper products and electrical appliances from getting musty or ruined.

"The market is driving this, people want a safe storage facility they can access most of the time," he added. "It's humidity-controlled because moisture is a negative when it comes to storing things."

The project will be built near the Coca-Cola distribution center at 359 Ellington Road and the Home Depot Warehouse at 360 Ellington Road, close to the Route 5 and Interstate 291 interchange.

DeMallie said 75% of the units would be leased online, allowing customers to download an app to gain access to the unit.

The facility will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The PZC approved the plan at its Nov. 29 meeting with multiple conditions. DeMallie said they would like to start construction in the early part of 2023.

Collin covers South Windsor and East Hartford for the Journal Inquirer.