Ellinwood Foundations’ property on Route 1 in Edgecomb may soon be the site of an additional business. Owner Ben Ellinwood attended an Edgecomb Planning Board meeting Thursday, Nov. 5 with architect George Parker to discuss using a portion of the property for a high-end storage facility.
The plan for a 9,000-square-foot storage facility with 3,000 square feet reserved for climate-controlled storage must undergo a site plan review before it is met with official planning board approval. With construction not planned until the spring, there is no rush to complete the process, Parker said.
In the preliminary meeting, planning board members expressed support for the project and saw no “show stoppers” that would complicate its approval. The Maine Department of Transportation has already confirmed the current entrance to Ellinwood Foundations is appropriate for the additional business, Parker said.
The only concern raised by planning board members involved storm drainage. Planning board members requested an engineering plan that detailed drainage centers for the new facility.
Ellinwood Foundations was established in 2004 to provide concrete construction services to the Midcoast, according to its website. The business made 380 Atlantic Highway (Route 1) its headquarters in 2010.
In an effort to be creative and get the maximum use out of the property, Ellinwood is planning a second, unconnected business. The planned storage facility will not be a typical one, Ellinwood said.
“We’re trying to be a little different than your average storage place,” he said. With 3,000 square feet reserved for climate-controlled storage, the planned storage facility will be capable of storing fine artwork, in addition to other temperature-sensitive items.
The remaining 6,000 square feet will be cold storage with approximately 18 units big enough to store cars, Ellinwood said. Each unit will have its own keypad security system, he said.
Ellinwood intends to separate the businesses on the parcel by placing the storage unit at a different elevation from Ellinwood Foundations, he said. Changing the elevation will require blasting, and Ellinwood was instructed to approach selectmen for a blasting permit when ready.
The mixed building with partial climate control represents Ellinwood “getting his feet wet” to see if it will be successful, he said.
“We like businesses like this,” Chair Jack French said. “We like the tax revenue.”
In budgeting for the project, Ellinwood said he would like to incorporate a projection of what taxes will be. It was a question the planning board was unable to answer.
