The Hopewell Township Zoning Board is nearing the end of testimony and deliberations on a proposal from 1784 Holdings seeking a zoning variance to build a three-story, 117,000-square-foot self-storage facility at 2393 Pennington Road—more than double the 53,000 square feet allowed under current zoning regulations. The proposed plan also includes space for outdoor storage of RVs and boats.
Attorneys for the applicant argue that self-storage is a permitted use at the site and that the facility would generate less traffic on Route 31 than other potential uses for the property.
Opponents of the project object to what they describe as the “intensity, scope, and scale” of the development, saying it is incompatible with the site and surrounding area. They also contend that there is insufficient demand to justify the 1,000 proposed storage units.
Several Zoning Board members expressed concern that the project does not align with the intent of the township’s Master Plan. They said the proposed size appears to reflect the business model of the applicant rather than the needs of the community. Board member Vanessa Sandom noted, “The Environmental Commission also has major problems with this project.”
Sandom made a motion to deny the application, but it failed by a vote of 4–3.
Immediately afterward, the attorney for 1784 Holdings offered to eliminate the planned outdoor RV and boat parking if the Board would approve the full 117,000-square-foot building. The applicant also agreed to move the structure further back from Route 31 and preserve more existing trees on the site.
Revised site plans reflecting these changes will be submitted to the Board. A final vote is expected at the next Zoning Board meeting, scheduled for June 4.
The meeting will be held via Zoom. Interested residents can obtain log-in information here.
