Blue Mountain Storage and Rentals in Lower Towamensing Township is expanding and changing its name to Blue Mountain Self Storage.

The Lower Towamensing Township Zoning Hearing Board recently approved a variance to make it possible.

James Ord, the chairman of the zoning hearing board, said a special exception is sought whenever a certain use is anticipated. A variance is needed if the use is outside of what was meant for the property.

“Generally, it’s easier to grant,” he said.

Since the property has been operating as a self-storage facility by owner Todd Berger, the property’s new owner, James Zaspel, didn’t need to get a variance to expand it.

Ord said the neighbors were in support of the expansion, and there is plenty of room for it.

Zaspel said the current storage building is 8,000 square feet. He plans to build two additions, which will add another 10,000 square feet. One addition will be 100 by 30 feet and will have storage units that are 10 by 30 feet and 5 by 10 feet. The second addition will be 180 by 40 feet, and will have storage units that are 10 by 20 feet and 5 by 10 feet.

He also plans to have the entire facility surrounded by an 8-foot fence with an electronic gate. The safety of people using the facility and the security of their property are at the top of his list.

“Only the people who are supposed to be in there will be able to get in,” he said.

The additions will be similar in structure to the current storage center with concrete floors and steel walls and roof.

“It’s your typical self-storage facility with the roll-up doors,” he said.

A residential real estate investor, Zaspel said he bought the storage center in order to diversify his investments. Also, he has a family member in the area that will keep an eye on it and manage it for him.

The promotional rental rates will be $49 per month for the 5-by-10-foot units. The 10-by-20-foot units will rent for $107 per month, and the cost for rent of the 10-by-30-foot units is yet to be determined.

The current storage facility has four units available to rent now. Zaspel plans to start construction on the additions in the spring. Before then, he needs to get the engineering completed, plans approved by the township, building permits, and an approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to widen the driveway into the business.

For more information about renting a unit, call 610-638-2753.