The entity JAM Storage LLC has applied to the Town of Cortlandt for approval to build a two-story self-storage building containing 68,000 square feet in a 34,000-square-feet footprint. The project is proposed for a 3.2-acre parcel of land at 2059 Albany Post Road. There is an existing single-family home on the site that would be torn down to make way for the self-storage building. There also is a portion of the property being used as a contractor’s storage yard. The project will be served by municipal water and a septic system.
The developer is represented by Attorney Brian Sinsabaugh of the White Plains-based law firm Zarin & Steinmetz. In his initial presentation to the Cortland Planning Board, Sinsabaugh asked that the board circulate its intent to declare itself lead agency in the review process, circulate the application to town staff for their comments and schedule a site visit as well as a public hearing if deemed necessary at this point. Earlier in the session, the board had conducted a public hearing on an application by the entity 3 Locust Avenue LLC to construct a four-story 75,000-square-foot self-storage facility on the site of the now vacant Toddville Elementary School building and baseball field.
Regarding the JAM Storage application, Sinsabaugh said, “The site is in somewhat a level of disrepair. This application seeks to improve that and provide better site conditions as well as bringing a much needed self-storage facility to the area.”
Sinsabaugh pointed out that the site is located in the HC-9A zoning district.
“In April 2024 the Town Board did determine hat self-storage facilities are a use that does not adversely impact the district when they adopted the zoning amendment making public warehousing and storage an as-of-right permitted use,” Sinsabaugh said. “They did note that that use has to be south of Memorial Drive but with regard to that we are just south of Memorial Drive.”
Sinsabaugh described the project as a low-impact use and stated that parking is not a huge concern for these types of uses.
“What is required based on ITE (Institute of Traffic Engineers) standards for this is seven spaces and that’s what we’ve provided on our application,” Sinsabaugh said. “That parking count does not include the loading dock area so an area where parking primarily would take place is not included in that parking count.”
Rich Williams of Insite Engineering said that there is an 8,700 square feet area of wetlands on the property and that parts of the wetlands buffer that would be disturbed by the project currently exist as developed areas. The developer has had a wetlands consultant look at the plans and the consultant will be providing input as the proposal moves forward, Cortland’s Planning Board was told.
