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As ezStorage moves forward with plans to put a storage facility in Burtonsville near the intersection of routes 198 and 29, county officials are looking at amending zoning laws to prevent the facility from being built.
At the East County Citizens Advisory Board meeting last Wednesday, board members and Councilwoman Nancy Navarro (D- Dist. 4) expressed their continuing discomfort with the facility going at the entrance of the Burtonsville community. But they said discussions between ezStorage and residents are still needed to find a compromise or resolution to the conflict.
"It's going to be very important for us to express our views on this issue," Navarro told the board, noting that ezStorage representatives have told her they have not seen any real opposition from residents to the facility. Navarro introduced amendment Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 09-05 in June to clarify the zoning restrictions for the overlay zone where the storage facility is proposed, she said.
Though the amendment does not specifically target ezStorage, it would prevent the facility from being placed there, according to board Chair Bill Strassberger.
"Really, what is boils down to, it's really a zoning issue," Strassberger said. The plot of land is in an overlay zone, he said, where conflicting zoning restrictions are unclear on what can be put there. EzStorage was able to appeal the denial to build the facility on the grounds that differing interpretations of the zoning law could allow the construction to move forward.
Strassberger and other board members said they are trying to play catch-up on dealing with the ezStorage issue, because late board member Stuart Rochester had been the one primarily handling the conflict.
"He was probably the only one who fully understood all of the intricacies of this issue," Strassberger said.
Eric Luedtke, parliamentarian for the board, expressed the importance of working with ezStorage in the coming months to reach a compromise, in the event that the facility is able to be built.
Having the company pay part or all of the cost to extend access roads Dino Drive beyond Star Point Drive and put a traffic signal at the intersection of Dino Drive and Rt. 198 would be compromises to consider, Luedtke said. These changes would improve access to the "strange location" of the post office's new emergency site, board members said. Luedtke also proposed a two-month holding period where residents could be informed of the details of the proposed land development.
"I'm open to hearing it," Luedtke said of the possible concessions that might be discussed at a meeting with developers. "That doesn't mean there's much chance that they're going to convince me. I don't frankly see the board taking a different standpoint on this unless they're able to convince the neighbors and the Burtonsville community."
Barbara Goldberg Goldman, a consultant to ezStorage with the Quorum consulting and lobbying firm, said she couldn't give details of what the company has planned, but said they are looking at all options for compromise.
"EzStorage is reaching out to the Burtonsville community in an effort to satisfy any concerns that they might have in order to develop its facility on the property that it already owns," she said in a prepared statement. "Furthermore, ezStorage looks forward to working closely with the entire community and becoming a good and productive neighbor."