China planners set two public hearings on self-storage units

by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members have scheduled June 27 public hearings on two applications for self-storage buildings on Route 3.

The applications, from Chris Harris and Lucas Adams, were on their June 15 agenda.

Harris plans a 40-by-100-foot, 28-unit building at 623 Route 3, beside Central Church (the church’s address is 627 Route 3). His application describes the proposed site as an open field.

Adams’ proposal is for a 30-by-100-foot building with 26 units. The site was described at the planning board meeting as the lot between Hanson and Horseback roads that is being cleared.

Both men plan to have their facilities accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Both plan buffers from neighboring properties; neither expects the business will cause disturbance to abutters or damage the environment.

Because the applications are for new commercial uses, planning board members voted unanimously to hold the June 27 public hearings to let neighbors and other interested parties comment on the plans.

China currently has three operating self-storage facilities, board members said. One is at 937 Route 3 by the laundromat; two are on Vassalboro Road not far north of Route 3.

The other business on the planning board’s June 15 agenda was continued review of the proposed solar ordinance. Board members decided their next step is to complete previously-proposed rearrangements of sections of the document. Co-chairman Toni Wall volunteered to prepared a revised draft for review before the June 27 meeting.

Wall raised the topic of planning board districts, which select board members discussed at their June 5 meeting (see the June 15 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). Select board members leaned toward eliminating the four districts from which some planning board and budget committee members – but not select board members – are elected. They postponed action until members of the other two boards had time to weigh in.

Wall, planning board co-chairman James Wilkens and member Walter Bennett spoke in favor of retaining districts. Wall and Bennett said they consider themselves district representatives, even though they are elected by a town-wide vote. Each makes a point of driving around to keep an eye on her or his district and asks questions of the codes officer when appropriate.

Wilkens thinks given the diversity within the town, residents like to have a neighbor to whom to bring questions or concerns. He suggested select board members, too, should be elected from districts.

The topic was on the agenda for the Tuesday, June 20 select board meeting (a day later than usual because of the Juneteenth holiday). Wall and Wilkens planned to attend the meeting if they were free that evening.

Elections by district are part of the planning board and budget committee ordinances. If boards agree to recommend eliminating (or revising) provisions about districts, voters’ action on ordinance amendments will be needed.