The Jaffrey Zoning Board recently approved a variance to allow the expansion of Circle Self Storage in Jaffrey.

The existing self-storage facility is located on Fitzgerald Drive in the town’s industrial zone. The applicant sought the variance to allow the construction of the building 50 feet into the 100-foot setback requirement. The same variance was previously granted in 2019 for the first phase of the business, which included two self-storage buildings.

According to the application, moving the buildings closer to the road allows for material and equipment to be stored in the back of the property, rather than be visible for the road. It would also give the lot a better appearance from the road, and it otherwise has adequate buffering to neighboring properties.

The application stated that similar variances have been granted, not only to the previous Circle Self-Storage buildings, but to others within the area, including industrial lots on Maria Drive.

Dan Barowski of Fieldstone Land Consultants, representing Circle Self-Storage, said that while the parcel lies within the town’s wetland conservation district and wellhead protection district, it is a non-noxious use which would not interfere with the wetlands.

The board, after finding that there were no wetland issues on the site, and that the proposal was in keeping with the existing use of the property, approved the variance in a unanimous vote.

In a separate issue, the board discussed an application for an accessory dwelling unit on Fitzwilliam Road, owned by Valeria Riccardo and Peter Mandryk.

Riccardo said that when she purchased the house, it was sold to her as two units, with the prospect of renting one unit and living in the other. She has only recently learned that the separate unit, which is in the basement, was not properly approved as an accessory dwelling unit.

She said that the area meets the town’s criteria for an ADU, as it is in a district that allows them, is under 750 square feet and is connected to the main building. She said that she has not rented the unit, but has had family and friends stay there, which is the main way she intends to use it. However, she want to formalize the space as an ADU, as she said she moves quite frequently for her job and does not intend to stay permanently in Jaffrey. When she sells the home, she wants to be able to sell it as two units.

“It was sold to me as two units,” Riccardo said. “When it comes time to sell, I can sell it like that.”

Zoning Board member Laurel McKenzie said the current home has a septic system that is designed to accommodate a three-bedroom home, and proposed that the board make a requirement of approval that the owners have a proposed septic plan to upgrade the system, should the current system fail.

The owners would not have to install the system unless the current system failed, but would have to have the plans approved by the town’s building inspector and filed with the state.

The board unanimously approved the ADU with that condition.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.