The most pressing topic was the application by Grip Tight Tools, which has been operating at the Commerce Avenue location since 2015. The CEO, Wed Nala, outlined the company’s growth and the resultant challenges, such as the need for additional space leading to outdoor storage issues. To mitigate these issues, the application proposed installing a fence to create a buffer zone.

Joseph Bachi, the professional planner representing the applicant, detailed the site plan, focusing on the property’s irregular shape, the existing building, parking facilities, and loading dock. He explained that the proposed site changes, including the chain-link fence, would screen the outdoor storage and improve parking to meet ADA compliance. Bachi also addressed variances related to parking offsets, ADA spaces, impervious coverage, and building coverage.

The Board’s attention then shifted to the concerns regarding parking and the potential impact on the surrounding area. The applicant was questioned about the number of employees, parking arrangements, and the nature of the business. In response, clarification was provided that Grip Tight Tools operates primarily as a business-to-business entity without any retail aspect or walk-in traffic.

As part of the presentation, Alexander Dougherty, another professional planner for the applicant, furnished exhibit packets with before-and-after conditions of the property. The board sought clarity on the relevance of these visuals to the project, with Dougherty providing a site orientation presentation that included a zoning map, aerial view, and drone-captured photographs of the property.

The discussion on the proposal also covered the broader implications of warehousing and distribution centers within the zone, including the master plan’s recognition of e-commerce as an opportunity for adaptive reuse. A board member raised the potential need to define e-commerce in the zoning regulations and the possibility of prohibiting it within the zone. The applicant maintained that the proposed use aligns with the intent of the D1 use variants and D2 slight betterment, highlighting the site’s suitability, special reasons for the application, and its limited impact on the public and the zone plan.

The board also examined the existing fence between the storage area and the access road to the electronic transmission station, with the applicant indicating no current plans for improvements. The visibility of the storage from Commerce Avenue was debated, with concerns about visual impact and security. Questions regarding the placement of dumpsters, operation of the storage, and after-hours access were also raised.

Ultimately, the board approved the application for outdoor storage, with stipulations concerning fencing and parking compliance. The conditions set forth aim to shield the outdoor storage from public view and to ensure security and compliance with parking regulations.

The meeting concluded without any significant dispute or debate regarding the application, and no public comments or concerns were presented. The board took a vote, approved the application, and with a motion and a second, adjourned the meeting.