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Date: 10/17/2023
MONSON — Following the recent public hearing, the Monson Planning Board has voted to recommend discussing the proposed self-service storage zoning bylaw change at the next Town Meeting.
The vote occurred after residents attending the Oct. 5 public hearing supported moving forward with the democratic process to modify the bylaw. This decision comes as the demand for self-storage units increases across the region.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for self-storage has risen significantly as more residents choose to remain in their current homes rather than sell, according to the Northeast Self-Storage Market Report from Matthews Real Estate. As a result, citizens nationwide have sought self-storage to provide more space.
In Monson, the discussion on self-storage began after a citizen applied to construct a self-storage unit. Upon this request, the Planning Board discovered that the zoning bylaws did not address this type of construction, Chair Craig Sweitzer told Reminder Publishing.
However, since the land use classification on warehouses was similar, the board decided to add another section that detailed self-storage facilities, Sweitzer explained.
The proposed change defined these facilities as “a business establishment consisting of a structure containing separate storage spaces leased to individuals for storage of goods, products, materials, or other objects” and included the conditions that they cannot store materials outside as well as sell or manufacture materials.
The bylaw change will be discussed and voted on by attending residents at the Town Meeting, which will take place on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Granite Valley School, according to the Town Clerk’s Office. The meeting’s warrant has not yet been released. To become official, a majority of attendees must vote in favor of the bylaw change during the meeting.