Controversial proposal for large self-storage business at Kmart site in Augusta revised
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Augusta councilors are taking into consideration a revised proposal to turn the vacant previous Kmart place on Western Avenue into a self-storage facility and ultimately construct a three-tale construction on section of the parking large amount to home added storage models. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
AUGUSTA — A revised strategy to start off a significant self-storage enterprise at the former Kmart web page on Western Avenue that in the beginning drew criticism from councilors for what they mentioned were unattractive and very noticeable garage-style units is now drawing praise from these exact councilors.
Councilors could vote Thursday to approve a zone change required for the proposal to go ahead.
The would-be developer of the web page, in reaction to areas of the proposal staying panned by town councilors last thirty day period, arrived back again with a revised strategy last week. The new system replaces a series of standalone single-tale buildings with exterior garage doorways proposed to be built in the parking lot of the vacant previous Kmart site on Western Avenue with a 3-story, significantly additional traditional-searching building that would residence the storage units.
“We produced this thought primarily based on the reviews we been given — we’re hoping this is better-suited for the site,” stated Chris Belanger, who informed city councilors June 9 he was doing the job for the two the proprietor of the internet site, Augusta Plaza, and the developer of the task, Patriot Holdings.
Belanger stated simply because the new setting up would have the storage models inside, a safety fence that would have surrounded the garage-fashion models should not be needed.
Numerous councilors, most of whom experienced criticized the buildings to be constructed in the parking ton in the authentic proposal, mentioned the revised proposal is considerably nicer and is a little something they could help.
“I have heard from a number of constituents about their problem about owning people one-tale properties on Western Avenue,” stated Ward 3 Councilor Mike Michaud. “I believe this (revised) thought helps make it seem like type of an place of work constructing, which I feel is a very little extra aesthetically pleasing. They did an about-face in a rather limited amount of money of time, and I individually assume they’ve appear up with a very good, sound prepare … to make it into a making that undoubtedly fits much better on Western Avenue than these buildings with the garage doors.”
Previous year town councilors accredited a zoning ordinance alter to make it possible for storage businesses as conditional takes advantage of in some business zoning districts alongside Western Avenue, wherever they weren’t formerly authorized, such as the space about the Turnpike Shopping mall and Augusta Crossing shopping facilities.

An aerial look at of a proposed a few-tale storage facility that would be designed on part of the parking great deal of the previous Kmart on Western Avenue in Augusta. Councilors favored the proposal above a plan to position standalone storage models with garage-type doorways and security fencing in the parking great deal and will vote on a zoning alter to let the venture to advance this 7 days. Courtesy of Gawron Turgeon Architects
But the Kmart website is in a various zone, where storage firms are not currently authorized, so the Las Vegas-based builders are seeking a contract zone agreement with the town to allow their storage company to track down at the web page. Patriot Holdings operates about 45 self-storage amenities called All-Function Storage all through New England, in accordance to Brandon Mitchell of Malone Professional Brokers, who represented the enterprise in the earlier meeting with councilors. The organization sees the probable for growth in Augusta and elsewhere in Maine, the place it also has self-storage initiatives in development in Buxton, Fairfield, Belgrade, Brewer and Warren.
Councilors are scheduled to look at approving that contract zone settlement to make it possible for a self-storage enterprise at the website at their conference Thursday. Mayor Mark O’Brien mentioned councilors could vote to waive a generally needed second looking through of the proposal Thursday, to allow for it to transfer forward in 30 times from that vote, which is the time period of time demanded for these kinds of zoning alterations to get impact. In any other case the developer would have to wait for two independent readings at two various council conferences, for the agreement zone agreement to be permitted just before the venture could be submitted to the Augusta Organizing Board for consideration.
The job by itself will even now call for Setting up Board approval, which will consist of a public hearing and assessment of the website program, as the council vote would only permit a self-storage organization to locate there and would not approve the unique task.
City officers and the developer claimed Augusta demands a lot more storage models and the idea of placing them at the Kmart web-site seemed like a great reuse of the property.
The project will begin by changing the existing 95,000-square-foot Kmart constructing into local climate-controlled storage units. Belanger said when individuals units are designed and occupied in the present creating, and when demand from customers involves it, the supplemental developing would be made on element of the former Kmart’s parking great deal.
The rest of the strip mall would keep on being as retail room.
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