Photo credit: Gorham Times StaffThis is the site plan that can be viewed at the Town Planner’s Office.
On Jan. 22, the Planning Board gave the public an opportunity to speak about the proposed Robie Street Subdivision Contract Zone and ten residents made their concerns known. They raised questions about traffic problems, wetlands on the site, potential loss of trees, impact on the schools, and the site plan itself. Following the public hearing, the Board made some changes to the proposed contract, which will require another public hearing tentatively set for Feb. 26. If after that meeting Board approves the contract, it will go to the Town Council. The site plan for the subdivision is on the agenda for the regular Planning Board meeting Feb. 5.
Many of the speakers were residents of streets adjacent to the subdivision, Bramblewood Lane, Ridgeway Lane, Robie Street, and White Birch Lane which will connect to New Portland Road and is the proposed major construction access. Residents said that their residential roads were too narrow and not suitable for the increased traffic which would only add to existing problems on South
Street and New Portland Road. Speaking for the developer, KV Enterprises, Owen McCullough, said that there would be a traffic survey and review before the site plan comes before the Planning Board. There was agreement that “traffic calming solutions” within the subdivision should be implemented by the developer.
However, many of the concerns expressed at the hearing would be dealt with during the site plan review, which is separate from the proposed contract zone. These include provisions for storm water, retention of trees, lot sizes, and street lay-outs, according to Carol Eyerman, the town planner. The contract zone, for example, would allow the developer to construct fifteen homes a year instead of the ten now set by town ordinances. However, other existing ordinances and regulations would still be in effect. Provisions of the Land Use and Development Code would apply to questions such as set-backs and lot sizes.
In response to the speakers’ concerns, the Planning Board made several changes to the proposed contract. They agreed that it was important to retain the “character of the neighborhood” as much as possible. They added to the contract that the developers protect the tree canopy whenever practical.