Mount Kisco’s Planning Board has given approval to plans for the development of a self-storage facility at 2 Morgan Drive at the intersection with Radio Circle. The approximately 2.67-acre parcel is in the RDX Zoning District, which allows self-storage facilities. The three-story building would contain approximately 93,960 square feet and provide 12 off-street parking spaces. The developer is Asset Realty & Construction Group, which is based in Brooklyn.
A plan to build a two-story structure at the site for housing a private car collection had been abandoned and the self-storage application was submitted. The land where Asset Realty plans to build is about 500 feet away from the location of a CubeSmart Self-Storage facility.
During the review process, the applicant made several changes in response to various comments and concerns from the village. These included reducing the square footage contained in the building from just over 102,000 square feet to the approved 93,960 square feet. The design of the building was changed to make it look less like a warehouse and more like a residential structure with various natural materials and different colors used on the facade.
Landscaping, buffer zones and tree removal received particular attention from the Planning Board during the review process. The developer’s plan included the removal of 166 trees, including 112 specimen trees. The village tree preservation requirements called for the developer to plant 387 replacement trees, but the developer proposed 167 trees, a difference of 220 trees. The developer proposed planting 10 trees off-site within a public right-of-way, leaving either 210 more trees to be planted or a fee paid in lieu of planting the additional trees. The village initially said the fee would be $1,500 for each tree not planted, which the developer felt was excessive. Wording was included in the approval resolution allowing for the final fee to be determined.
Attorney Brian T. Sinsabaugh of the White Plains-based law firm Zarin & Steinmetz told the Planning Board, “Both the building and site design are consistent with community character and will not adversely impact the surrounding area.” He pointed out that the land use in the immediate area is either industrial or in the case of a United States Postal Service facility, a public institution use. The Postal Service is at 3 Morgan Drive and Frito-Lay Sales LLP is at 1 Morgan Drive.
The plan calls for access to the self-storage facility to be off Morgan Drive and an access road along the west side of the building and connecting to the village’s utility road known as Pump House Road.
