The owner of the property at 123 Oak St. in Port Chester, AKT Two Realty LLC wants to expand an existing self-storage facility on the site and is looking for site plan and special exception use approvals from the Village of Port Chester. The facility operates as Vanguard Self Storage and advertises units of varying sizes at rents from $64 to $2,415 per month.
The proposal involves the construction of an 80,538-square-foot annex to the existing building. There also would be landscaping and lighting improvements as well as reconfiguration of the on-site parking. The site itself covers 2.62 acres. The annex would add 750 self-storage units to what’s currently there for a total of 1,554 self-storage units. The annex would include a cellar, loading dock, and lobby at grade level. The number of parking spaces, currently 111, would be reduced to 46.
The self-storage building already on the site is 137,658 square feet and varies from one to three stories in height. It has two associated loading docks accessible from Oak Street and Williams Street
According to Attorney Anthony B. Gioffre III of the White Plains-based law firm Cuddy & Feder, the applicant is not proposing any solar, green roof, or electric vehicle charging facilities. However, the plans do call for utilizing high efficiency heating and cooling systems, an insulated building envelope, and LED lighting.
According to Gioffre, data compiled for the project indicates that traffic at the site would be minimal and at most would require 18 parking spaces so the number of parking spaces to be provided exceeds what will be needed. The proposed project would generate approximately nine morning peak hour vehicle trips, 13 afternoon peak hour vehicle trips, and 20 Saturday peak hour vehicle trips.
Gioffre pointed out that in addition to residential uses in the neighborhood, there already are commercial and mix-use buildings near the site.
A construction management plan indicated that roadway closures will not be conducted as part of construction. Additionally, construction parking will be at the site. Temporary sidewalk closure of the west sidewalk along Smith Street will occur for approximately one month.
Some Planning Commission members expressed concern that tall shrubbery that the applicant planned to install at the site could create a safety hazard at night by allowing people with nefarious intents to hide and then pounce on unsuspecting pedestrians. There was considerable discussion about the possible addition of fencing to help separate pedestrians from the landscaping while preserving the landscaping’s ability to beautify the site. Proposed plantings included Fastigiate Norway Spruce, which have a mature height of 20 feet to 30 feet, Mountain Laurel, Shadblow, Green Giant Arborvitae and flowering plants.
The project site is within Port Chester’s Character-Based Code’s CD-4MU – General Urban Mixed-Use Character District (CD-4MU District), which consists of a medium density area that has a mix of building types and promotes medium-sized blocks, sidewalks, and small or no front setbacks.
The development was expected to be able to improve the pedestrian experience in its proximity through the addition of new sidewalks. There will be setbacks along the southern frontage where the project site is contiguous with 130 Smith Street. The height of the annex fronting on Smith Street would vary from approximately 35 to 45 feet.
