North Attleboro, MA, Officials Take Steps to Ban Self-Storage Development

Town officials in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, are clarifying language for zoning bylaws that’ll effectively ban new self-storage development and mobile-home parks in the city. The planning board will discuss the matter at an Aug. 4 public hearing, according to the source.

The planning board has debated this issue before, however, the topic came up again during a public hearing last week. Town planner Gil Hilario told members the first step was to update the zoning bylaws. “We want to make North Attleboro an attractive place to live and work and bring meaningful development,” he said, adding that mobile homes are outdated and self-storage facilities take up valuable space.

Some board members noted that neither business generates jobs, and they contribute minimal taxes. “I don’t think it’s the highest, best use from the town’s perspective,” board member Greg Walsh said.

The zoning bylaw would need to be approved by the town council. If passed, it wouldn’t apply to existing self-storage sites.

Source: The Sun Chronicle, Planning Board Eyes Ban on New Mobile Home Parks, Self-Storage Units in North Attleboro