The project team developing the Villages Master Plan held a second public meeting on Nov. 29. They presented draft concepts and recommendations for revitalization of the Little Falls-South Windham villages and sought feedback from the community in person and online.
A collaboration between the towns of Gorham and Windham, the project has a multi-disciplinary consultant team that has been working for nearly two years to develop a vision for the area. They sought input from the community through a previous public meeting and small group listening sessions. “We were very pleased with the number of people who participated and showed their interest in the project,” Carol Eyerman, Gorham Town Planner, and team member said after the meeting.
Located where Route 202 crosses the Presumpscot River, the study area was a busy neighborhood of homes, shops, and businesses for many years. The team presented concepts designed to create “a mixed-use New England village center” for this neighborhood encompassing both the Windham and Gorham sides of the river.
The concept images illustrated five themes: more housing density, an inviting setting for local businesses, a streetscape that encourages a walking neighborhood, opportunities for outdoor recreation, and features that help build community.
To illustrate how these goals might be realized, the team showed concept designs of five locations in the study area. For the village center from Huston Rd. to the former Sawyers convenience store, they envisioned a mixed-use, walkable streetscape with wide sidewalks and public space that would slow down traffic on 202. On Depot Street they suggested 68 homes of mixed housing types on 3.3 acres and on the Andrews site 32 homes on 2.2 acres which would “create needed density.” They proposed a more welcoming trailhead where the Mountain Division Trail crosses near Blue Seal. For the six-acre Keddy Mill site, an EPA superfund site, they proposed sidewalks along the river that could connect the village to the Mountain Division Trail.
The team took questions from the online participants and those at the South Windham Fire Station. Questioners were concerned about the heavy traffic on 202. Team members replied they were not expecting less traffic, but that strategies to reduce speed should help. Others questioned the need for high residential density. Nick Aceto, consultant from Aceto Landscape Architects, said, “If you want a more vibrant center you need people on the street.” Consultants felt that with increased density, more public space, and a more walkable core, businesses would come back to the area.
There were questions about provisions for increased parking. Although the team thought there would be enough public and private opportunities for parking, they also said that they hoped bus service would be available in the future. When it was pointed out that people can get services nearby, consultants assured they were not trying to create another Gorham village or North Windham, but that over time increased residential density would attract the types of businesses people in the area wanted.
The concept designs identified areas appropriate for commercial and residential development, re-development, and for open space, but they did not make zoning recommendations. Aceto emphasized that this will not happen all at once and much is up to individual property owners. There were concerns about retaining open space. Not a lot of land is available for large parks close to the core area, but there could be small ones, and there are dedicated recreational areas nearby. Partnerships with non-profit organizations could increase opportunities for recreational spaces. In fact, partnerships between two municipalities, businesses, residents, and non-profits will be necessary for revitalization of the Little Falls and South Windham villages.
A recording of the meeting as well as all the concept images from the project can be found on the project website: www.villagesmasterplan.com.