MARLBOROUGH – A storage unit facility at 846 Boston Post Road East wants to demolish a house on its property in order to expand its facility.
However, because the facility is within the Wayside District, and storage units are not allowed, Exela Storage has applied for a special permit for a nonconforming use.
Attorney Sem Aykanian, representing the owners of Exela Storage, came before the City Council on April 10 to discuss the proposal to add storage units.
The current facility holds 10 storage containers, stacked two rows high with five containers in each row; each container is 8 by 20 feet.
Adjacent to the containers is a house that had been purchased by the facility’s owners a few years ago. Their original intent was to rehab the house. However, Aykanian said the house is “in really bad condition.” The plans call for the house to be knocked down, and the space used to house 10 additional storage containers.
He added that the additional containers would cover the same square footage as the house.
City Councilor David Doucette agreed about the condition of the house.
“It’s been slowly deteriorating,” Doucette said.
Other members of the council asked about access to the facility.
The special permit is also going through the Conservation Commission, since the facility is close to wetlands. The commission’s next meeting is Thursday, April 20.
The City Council has sent the application to its Urban Affairs Committee.
