Christopher Wilcox has withdrawn his application to the Town of Ogden regarding construction of a self-service storage facility between Routes 31 and 531 near Washington Street.
Wilcox notified the town about his decision Thursday, July 9. The Ogden Planning Board was in the process of completing an EAF (Environmental Assessment Form) on the project when the application was withdrawn. Ogden Supervisor Gay Lenhard said the Town Board was waiting for the EAF before making a decision regarding the re-zoning of the 12.5 acre parcel from residential to a self-service storage overlay district.
Wilcox told the Suburban News/The Herald the most significant reason he decided to withdraw the application was because of finances.
“It was determined that the development was going to cost more than anticipated,” he said, and explained those costs included the size of the proposed development – 16 storage buildings with approximately 30 units per building, and two smaller buildings with approximately 35 units each – as well as his hope to assist owner-occupied houses next to the property and also satisfy renters.
Wilcox said he planned to create a drainage system to assist homeowners in the neighborhood and additionally wanted to plant evergreens along the property line to create a year-round aesthetic view.
“After receiving word from my engineer last week of the anticipated costs, I decided to withdraw my application,” he said.
He added that he is not sure what is next for the property.
Members of the 31 West Neighborhood Association strongly opposed the re-zoning during a public hearing held by the Ogden Town Board May 13.
Duane Gaul, a leader of the Association, said his group is pleased that Wilcox withdrew his application, “But he did the same thing in 2011 – withdrew his application after we opposed it. Mr. Wilcox can wait and reapply later for another re-zoning attempt,” Gaul said.
Following the 2011 withdrawal, the Town of Ogden passed a local law in 2014, which created the self-service storage overlay district.
The 31 West Neighborhood Association opposed the law because, “We continue to believe that self-storage businesses do not belong in residential neighborhoods,” Gaul said, and indicated members plan to ask the Town Board to amend the law so that it does not allow self-service storage facilities in residential districts.
“We believe that allowing self-service storage facilities in light industrial districts and commercial districts is sufficient,” he said.
Gaul noted that the group is pleased to see the construction of North Coast Personal Storage on South Union Street in the Commercial Heritage District. “It is an area where the Comprehensive Town Plan says they can be located,” Gaul explained.
He added that testimony given during the May 13 public hearing via cell phone by Lt. Colonel Daniel Fletcher, who lives in the 31 West neighborhood and is deployed in Afghanistan, “may have had an effect on the Town Board’s feelings about Highway View Self-Storage.”
