JOHNSTOWN — The city Planning Board on Tuesday reviewed the site plan for a project to construct steel-frame buildings for storage units at the former Buanno Warehousing building on Townsend Avenue.
The project on a 6.4-acre site is being done by NoSo Storage LLC, owned by Joshua Loucks. Present at Tuesday’s board meeting at City Hall were Loucks and project engineer Charles Ackerbauer.
“We have received the short form environmental assessment,” said board Chairman Peter K. Smith.
The empty, former Buanno Warehousing facility at 11 Townsend Ave. used to be owned by the city. But the Common Council on March 19 accepted a $125,000 offer from Joshua Loucks/NoSo Corp. L.L.C. for the parcel.
Loucks told the planning board he hopes to create single storage units, and work toward repairing some of the back of the deteriorating building.
Ackerbauer noted the project will start with one steel-frame building for storage units, but “eventually put more in.”
“It is compliant” with zoning, city Fire Chief Bruce Heberer said of the Buanno structure.
Smith asked about illumination at the site, and Loucks responded there will be some around the building.
“It will all be fenced in,” Loucks added.
Ackerbauer said an attempt is currently being made to get recommendations on the sizing of the storage units.
Loucks noted his firm has been slowly removing some of the old Buanno trucks still on the back of the site
“It’s kind of nice to see someone use the building,” said 2nd Ward Kathi Iannotti, council liaison to the board.
The board voted to declare itself lead agency for a required state Environmental Quality Review of the project.
A public hearing on the project was set for 4 p.m. Aug. 6 at City Hall. Smith told the applicants the project may possibly be approved following the hearing
Loucks asked if he could do some surface-level site work until final project approval, with Heberer saying that is allowable.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected]
