A self-storage development project in Lewisboro, N.Y., that has been three years in the making could finally be nearing its construction start date. Property owner Steve Kaplan appeared before the Lewisboro Planning Board on Oct 21 to seek an extension for a wetland-activity permit. Kaplan said he’s in the final stages of obtaining approvals from the town’s building department and hopes to start constructing the storage facility on the vacant 1-acre lot off Route 123.

The property will include three buildings totaling 6,620 square feet of storage space. It will be unmanned, which was a cause for concern to board members when Kaplan presented his proposal in 2011, according to the source. At that time, board members were unsure if an automated storage facility qualified as a permissible personal-service business under the Town Code regulations.

Obtaining permits for the project has been ongoing issue for Kaplan, the source reported. He’s currently waiting for renewal of a permit from the New York State Department of Transportation to allow an entrance to be constructed off Route 123.

Because the development is required to have a valid wetland-activity permit throughout construction, the planning board extended Kaplan’s wetland permit to expire on Nov. 16, 2015, which is also the day the site-plan approval expires. Typically, the wetland permit expires within 90 days of issue.

Kaplan told the board he hopes to open the facility next spring.

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