Salem Planning Board Meeting September 10, 2026: Self-Storage Site Plan Approved and Event Permits Reviewed
Salem Planning Board Meeting September 10, 2026: Self-Storage Site Plan Approved and Event Permits Reviewed
The Salem Planning Board convened on September 10, 2026, to hold a continued public hearing for the Bluebird Sale of LLC site plan for a self-storage facility and to discuss three temporary event requests. The board voted unanimously to approve the site plan with a conditional use permit for reduced parking subject to 11 conditions. Temporary events were reviewed and generally supported.
Discussion Items
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Bluebird Self-Storage Facility Site Plan (Continued from July 14, 2026)
Planning Director Jacob Lafontaine summarized changes since the previous meeting, including responses to engineering comments, addition of windows on north and west elevations, increased tree planting from reduced count back to 64 trees, and revisions to landscaping and facade. The parcel is highly visible from I-93 and will require significant clearing. Staff noted outstanding comments from the fire department regarding truck turnaround and potential hydrant. Applicant Bridget Souza Wake (Northstrom Associates) clarified that a turning plan was provided and fire truck specs were used. Board member Paul Pelletier asked about elevation changes and landscaping. The board expressed satisfaction with building aesthetics, though staff suggested considering muted colors for outbuildings. The board discussed conditions, including preserving the proposed tree line and requiring fire department approval. -
Birches Academy Patio Enclosure (Advisory)
Jacob Lafontaine presented a proposal by Birches Academy at 419 South Broadway to fence in an existing paver area to create a student patio. No formal vote was taken; the board offered advisory comments, noting the charter school's exempt status. -
Salem Woods 10-Year Anniversary Event
A temporary event permit request for September 15, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. at Sally Suites using Ingram Senior Center overflow parking. Board had no concerns and noted it would proceed through the permit process. -
Ruined Rides Car Show at 34 Pelham Road
A proposed event on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 12-5 p.m., expecting 60-80 show vehicles and public attendance. Board recommended a police detail to manage parking along Pelham Road, subject to police department approval.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Bluebird Self-Storage Site Plan with Conditional Use Permit for reduced parking, unanimously, subject to 11 conditions including:
- Staff approval prior to building permit (including fire department review),
- Pay for outside inspections,
- Submit state permits (AOT, NHDOT),
- Submit lot consolidation form,
- Road impact fee of $55,609.38 and public safety impact fee of $44,160.39 prior to occupancy,
- Provide certified as-built site plan,
- Construct all improvements per approved plan,
- Limits of proposed tree line shall not be disturbed,
- Conditional use permit for reduced parking,
- Operate business so parking capacity is not exceeded,
- All representations and plan notes incorporated.
- Birches Academy proposal: advisory discussion, no formal decision.
- Salem Woods event: no objections, to proceed with temporary event permit.
- Ruined Rides car show: approval conditioned on police detail if required.
Meeting Transcript
Great evening. I would like to call the September 10th, 2026 meeting of the planning board to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. So the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible Liberty and Justice for all. Good evening, Sam. Jim Harvey. Good evening. Sean Lewis. Good evening. And to my left, Vic Hellenic. Good evening, Sam. Chuck Saba. Hello, Salem. And Town Council Rep Paul Pelletier. Good evening, Phil. That's for the planning department. We have Jacob Lafontaine as planning director. The agenda for tonight is as follows. We have one item of old business. It's the Bluebird Sale of LLC site plan public hearing for self-storage facility containing one. 155,457 square foot storage building and two 4,050 square foot single-story traditional storage buildings with a conditional use permit for reduced parking. That is continued from 714 2026, and no items of new business tonight. Yes, uh, we should read the abutters. The abutters are as follows. If you hear, please indicate by saying so. They are Hook Holdens, uh three Industrial Way, CB Goodnow and Associates Inc. Two Industrial Way Condo, Lucia Investments LLC, Fast Break Investments LLC, Two Industrial Way, New Hampshire LLC. Lemons Direct LLC, NPM Realty Trust, Salem Athletic Club, Sylvaria, Sunset Rock LLC, Omni Point Inc., Industrial Way Associates, Mets Realty, and that is all. Last time we heard the plan. Yes, Mr. Chair, I can bring you up to speed. You last heard the plan in July 14th, 2026. Of course, it looks like the USB I have doesn't want to reformat, so I might not be able to provide my presentation, but I would let you know that uh since that meeting they have responded to the engineering comments, they've noted comments for drainage and utility, uh they've noted comments for drainage and utilities, added note for the contractor to add additional erosion controls if to necessary. They've added windows to the north elevation, uh noted uh noted that they will address truck turnaround plan, responded to RCCD comments, updated information regarding the building height, added additional landscape and on I-93 frontage, identified proposed tree long along I-93 on landscape plan, and revise the west elevation to include additional windows. Um I'll try to get my presentation up. Maybe I can do that after the applicant presents, but essentially there were a couple items that had come up at the last meeting, some of them relative to the landscape plan. When you approved this plan previously in 2022, there were 64 trees under the uh plan that was proposed in July. There was a reduction in the tree count. They've since increased the tree count back to 64. Their total number of plantins are still reduced over their previous uh approval, and a lot of that uh is to do with the uh ground covers and some of the other perennials that they were proposing. There is still a reduction in some of the shrubs that know uh they've got a reduction in things like uh rhododendrons, not a significant one, um, but their overall number of plantins is reduced. They did um also um provide that uh the windows on it. So if you recall last meeting we talked about the elevations, particularly along I 93. This parcel is gonna be highly visible right now. It's pretty much entirely vegetated, and they're gonna have to clear. Um I think there's reference indication that they're gonna clear cut it, uh, or at least that was uh reported publicly. They're not necessarily gonna clear cut the whole parcel, but they are gonna clear cut the portion closest to um 93 if that makes sense. So there will still be a remaining edge of tree line to the uh north of the site and then also to the to the western portion of the site, but there's gonna be substantial amount of vegetation along 93 that will be cleared.
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