HAMPDEN – Roughly a dozen residents attended the Hampden Board of Selectmen meeting on Aug. 2 to speak against a proposed self-storage facility.

The proposed facility would be located at 2 Somers Rd., though the address was also listed in the Planning Board paperwork as 23 East Longmeadow Rd. The parcel of land is behind Polish National Credit Union and would abut residential property on Cedar Oak Lane and Meadow Brook Lane. The landowner, Daniel P. Garvey, is also seeking a special permit to develop the adjacent parcel at 16 Somers Rd. for self-storage units. A public hearing for that permit is scheduled for Aug. 11.

Residents, some of whom have put up “No Self-Storage” signs around town, wanted to know how they could put a stop to the development. Board of Selectmen member John Flynn told the concerned citizens, “The gentleman who owns the property has the right to apply to use it the way he wants, but he has to be respectful of his neighbors.”

One person made the argument that property values of the abutting homes would decrease, lowering the tax base by more than tax revenue from the facility would bring in. It is too early in the planning process to generate potential tax figures. As Flynn noted, taxes on self-storage facilities are determined by the amount of revenue the business produces.

Another resident stated that had she known the property could be used for such a purpose, she wouldn’t have voted to zone it for business during a previous Town Meeting. She, too, was worried about property values, but also about the environmental impact. She asked if the issue could be put to another vote at the Special Town Meeting in October.

Chair Donald Davenport explained that citizen’s petitions were non-binding and the Planning Board would still have the final say over approval. It was also pointed out that the application for the project would be grandfathered in if the zoning were changed after it was filed.

Flynn also pointed out, “There isn’t that much business district to develop” to increase the tax base in town.

Flynn said that he had walked the property with state Sen. Eric Lesser earlier in the day to discuss the potential use of the land. Flynn noted that in the past when parcels of land were slated for controversial subdivision development, the town worked with the state to find “creative” solutions and bought the land with a state grant for use as a park. He said that Lesser seemed open to working on another creative solution, “but there’d have to be a reason,” such as environmental concerns.

He added that if any money to purchase the property were to come from town funds or Community Preservation Act money, he said, that would also need to go before a vote at Town Meeting.

Board of Selectmen member Craig Rivest had a laundry list of concerns regarding the submitted application. He said that there had not been an environmental impact study, a traffic study or a snow removal/wastewater management plan developed.

He also pointed out that the owner was listed as Hampden Farms, LLC. on some paperwork, but that company had been dissolved in 2020. On other forms on file with the town, the applicant for the 2 Somers Rd. project was shown to be Hampden Self Storage, LLC., and 16 Somers Road, LLC for the second parcel of land.

“I’m concerned we’re opening a legal battle,” Rivest told his colleagues.

Town Administrator Bob Markel informed the board that he had reached out to the town attorney and two others regarding the legality of the petitioning company, but had yet to hear back.

“I’m also worried about the character [of the proposed buildings]. It doesn’t really fit the character of the town,” Rivest said.

The board voted to recommend the Planning Board require the studies cited by Rivest, but also verify the ownership of the property and “consider the architectural nature [of the business] be in keeping with the historical nature of the neighborhood.

The board moved to a discussion of the use of a police vehicle that came into the town’s possession. The purchase of a Chevy Tahoe was approved at the Special Town Meeting in the fall of 2020. Due to a shortage of microchips used in modern vehicles, the SUV was received in July.

Flynn reported that Police Chief Scott Trombly decided to use the vehicle as the chief’s car, despite two cruisers with 73,000 and 87,000 miles in need of replacing. The existing chief’s car had mileage in the 20,000-mile range. While another police vehicle was approved at the spring Annual Town Meeting and the chief plans to request another vehicle at the Special Town meeting this October, it will be several months before either of them arrive, Markel said.

“I want to hear a little more about this because I’m not happy,” Flynn declared.

State Rep. Brian Ashe presented a check for $100,000 to the town for the removal of trees damaged by the 2017 gypsy moth infestation. In Hampden, 650 trees on town-owned land have been identified as dead or dying due to the moth damage. At two consecutive Town Meetings, residents have approved an extra $100,000 to fell the trees, which pose a danger to property and the public should they fall in a storm.

“It’s a recognition of a public safety need,” said Davenport.

“This is, honestly, government working at its best,” said Ashe. “This isn’t the sexiest thing, gypsy moths,” but he said, “knowing the needs” of the community is how work gets done.

The town is considering a contract with Whip City Fiber to provide internet service to the Town House. Rivest explained that the town’s contract with Spectrum for 25 mb/s speed has lapsed. He said that the connection was severely taxed by the Zoom meeting and other municipal uses. He said that Spectrum no longer offers such slow connection speeds.

Rivest compared 50 mb/s and 100 mb/s speeds from Whip City and Spectrum and found that Whip City was able to offer better prices, though there would be installation fees. A comparison of three-year contracts with each provider found that Spectrum would charge $640 per month, while Whip City’s service including the installation cost was $713 per month. If the installation fee were able to be paid for with grant money, from either the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) or the federal COVID-19 relief funding known as the CARES Act, the cost would decrease to $550 per month.

Flynn said that the purpose of the upgrade is partly to allow employees to work from home and better facilitate remote meetings – both results of the pandemic – and therefore, should be eligible for CARES funding. If not, Markel told the board that the town has a “sizable” IT budget that the upgrade can be funded from.

Were the town to take the next step and offer fiber service throughout the municipality, state law would require it to create a municipal light plant and an unpaid director position to oversee it. That topic will be discussed further after the board secures a new contract.