FARMINGTON — The Planning Board on Monday unanimously approved applications for construction of three storage buildings in West Farmington.

T & J LLC owner Tim Bowen filed the applications to expand the one storage unit he built last year at Town Farm Road and Marvel Street in West Farmington.

Prior to the meeting, Bowen said rental of the storage units was going well. There’s a variety of reasons people rent space for storage. He said customers may be changing jobs and moving, leaving college or divorcing. They want space to store items.

The applications were for site review plans and soil erosion control/stormwater management plans.

David Allen of Town Farm Road, whose home is across from the storage unit, said his house sits on a banking above the road. He and his wife like to sit on their porch but find the galvanized steel roof on the unit is very reflective.

“It’s like looking in a mirror when the sun hits,” Allen said.

Allen also said when large trucks such as U-Hauls drive in, the land sinks, especially after it rains.

The ground problem has been addressed and fixed, Bowen said.

Board member Tom Eastler suggested a darker-colored steel for the new buildings would not reflect. But, it’s up to Bowen if he’s willing to do it, he said. 

Farmington is a community where there are no rules or regulations on what color you paint your house, he added.

Other members questioned whether the steel would dull in time or whether, depending on the angle of the sun, if it would only be for a couple weeks out of the year.

Town Manager Richard Davis asked if there was anything in the town ordinance governing visual disturbance.

There’s nothing that applies to this, Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser, said.

Board members encouraged Allen to work with Bowen under the good neighbor policy.

In other business, the board re-elected Clayton King as chairman and William Marceau as vice chairman.

[email protected]