Moving Firm Seeks To Almost Triple Warehouse Space

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members are reviewing a proposal to almost triple the size of a warehouse for a moving and storage firm, which is located at the linear Hawleyville Industrial Park along Barnabas Road.

Applicant Phil Braun is seeking to amend his P&Z special permit to allow him to increase the size of Braun Moving Inc’s warehouse from 48,013 to 131,525 square feet.

The expanded warehouse would cover more than three acres at the 46 Barnabas Road site. The new construction would occur on the north side of Barnabas Road. That road parallels the westbound lanes of Interstate 84, linking Tunnel Road to Hawleyville Road. The site provides the moving firm with easy access to the Exit 9 interchange of Interstate 84.

Engineer Matthew Scully of Brookfield, representing Mr Braun at a June 15 P&Z public hearing, presented plans for the proposed warehouse expansion project. Mr Scully said that tractor-trailer truck parking areas would be added to the site to meet the requirements of expanded warehouse space. New loading docks would be constructed.

The one-story building expansion would visually match the warehouse that now stands on the site, he said. Twenty-three employees would work at the expanded facility, which is located in a M-1 (Industrial) zone, he said.

During the public comment section of the session, resident Mike Sanchez of 137 Currituck Road told P&Z members, “This [proposed] addition dwarves the present building.” The expanded warehouse could be highly visible from residential properties in the area, he said. Mr Sanchez said he wants the applicant to have a significant amount of visual buffering in place to obscure the view of an expanded warehouse.

Vegetation would be planted near the warehouse to obscure its appearance from residential properties in the area, Mr Scully said.

Resident Dan Faccenda of 135 Currituck Road said he is concerned about the prospect of having a view of an expanded warehouse.

Mr Scully said he expects that the proposed warehouse expansion would be the last warehouse expansion possible on the site, considering the developmental constraints at the property.

P&Z members decided to resume the public hearing at an upcoming meeting at which revised warehouse project design drawings would be reviewed.

In 2001, P&Z members approved an initial construction proposal for a 19,764-squarefoot warehouse. In 2003, P&Z approved expanding the warehouse from 19,764 square feet to 48,013 square feet.

Various household goods, such as furniture, are stored within the warehouse. The average time that items are stored there is about one year. Such storage occurs when families are waiting to make residential moves.