Board reviews Gateway study
Board reviews Gateway study
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
At the final public hearing on the largest development project ever proposed in Scarborough, no residents came forward with anything to say. The Gateway at Scarborough project, which is proposed to include a Cabela's outdoor store, a hotel, two restaurants, retail stores and office buildings, would be located on two sites adjacent to Payne Road and the Haigis Parkway. Although the $74 million dollar proposed development has previously caused residents to raise concerns about the potential impact of increased traffic, it was only members of the Planning Board who addressed the planners of the development at a public hearing and site plan review the board held last Monday.
"I'm a little surprised nobody wants to speak," Planning Board Chair Susan Auglis said before tapping her gavel to signal the end of the hearing.
Despite the lack of public comments, the site plan review for the development still lasted nearly two hours and included presentations on lighting, architecture and the findings of a recent traffic study. Town Planner Joseph Ziepniewski pointed out to the crowd in attendance that although the meeting was reported by some local media outlets as signifying "final approval" for the development, New England Expeditions LLC – the partnership behind the project – was not yet ready for that ultimate step.
"We're not talking about final approval," said Ziepniewski. "This is just part of the process. They still have to get (Department of Environmental Protection) and (Department of Transportation) permits."
The bulk of the site plan review consisted of the board examining a recent traffic study that was designed to gauge the impact of traffic flow in several areas of town, including the Eight Corners area and various areas on Payne Road and the Haigis Parkway. A traffic consultant working for NEE, Tom Erico of Wilbur Smith Associates, presented the study to the board. The study used a letter grading system to rate the level of service certain road areas were projected to offer after the project was completed. The study was conducted under the assumption that numerous planned road improvement projects throughout Scarborough, including improvements to the area around the proposed development, would be completed. Under those conditions, Erico said, the level of service in most areas of town included in the study would receive the same rating as they currently earn.
"This shows the level of conditions either staying the same or getting better," said Erico.
Some Planning Board members expressed skepticism about how accurate and comprehensive the traffic study could really be, considering the large scale of the development and the study's conclusion that there would be minimal change in quality of service. But Scarborough's peer review traffic engineer, Bill Bray, said he was impressed with the results of the traffic study.
"I believe all the issues have been identified and I'm very comfortable standing here today," said Bray, adding that he expected the Maine Department of Transportation to approve the project within a few weeks.
Board member Bud Hanson said that traffic already was a problem in Scarborough and that he expected it would continue to be. He also expressed concern about impacts of the proposed development beyond the area studied, including issues of public safety caused by the increase in visitors.
Board member Bill Shanahan, who pointed out that there is no certainty that many of the road improvements that were included in the traffic study will go forward, asked NNE's Gene Beaudoin if the only road improvements NNE was planning for the town were the improvements proposed directly along the development.
"Its about 2,000 feet, but its also costs $2 million," answered Beaudoin.
"And how much is the developer getting back from the (Tax Increment Financing)?" asked Shanahan.
"Seven million dollars," said Beaudoin.
"Okay," said Shanahan. "I just wanted to make that clear."
The traffic study also determined that NNE would be required to pay around $461,624 in impact fees due to the traffic produced by the development. The town has numerous formal and informal impact fees established to raise funds for road improvement projects in specific areas of town.
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
At the final public hearing on the largest development project ever proposed in Scarborough, no residents came forward with anything to say. The Gateway at Scarborough project, which is proposed to include a Cabela's outdoor store, a hotel, two restaurants, retail stores and office buildings, would be located on two sites adjacent to Payne Road and the Haigis Parkway. Although the $74 million dollar proposed development has previously caused residents to raise concerns about the potential impact of increased traffic, it was only members of the Planning Board who addressed the planners of the development at a public hearing and site plan review the board held last Monday.
"I'm a little surprised nobody wants to speak," Planning Board Chair Susan Auglis said before tapping her gavel to signal the end of the hearing.
Despite the lack of public comments, the site plan review for the development still lasted nearly two hours and included presentations on lighting, architecture and the findings of a recent traffic study. Town Planner Joseph Ziepniewski pointed out to the crowd in attendance that although the meeting was reported by some local media outlets as signifying "final approval" for the development, New England Expeditions LLC – the partnership behind the project – was not yet ready for that ultimate step.
"We're not talking about final approval," said Ziepniewski. "This is just part of the process. They still have to get (Department of Environmental Protection) and (Department of Transportation) permits."
The bulk of the site plan review consisted of the board examining a recent traffic study that was designed to gauge the impact of traffic flow in several areas of town, including the Eight Corners area and various areas on Payne Road and the Haigis Parkway. A traffic consultant working for NEE, Tom Erico of Wilbur Smith Associates, presented the study to the board. The study used a letter grading system to rate the level of service certain road areas were projected to offer after the project was completed. The study was conducted under the assumption that numerous planned road improvement projects throughout Scarborough, including improvements to the area around the proposed development, would be completed. Under those conditions, Erico said, the level of service in most areas of town included in the study would receive the same rating as they currently earn.
"This shows the level of conditions either staying the same or getting better," said Erico.
Some Planning Board members expressed skepticism about how accurate and comprehensive the traffic study could really be, considering the large scale of the development and the study's conclusion that there would be minimal change in quality of service. But Scarborough's peer review traffic engineer, Bill Bray, said he was impressed with the results of the traffic study.
"I believe all the issues have been identified and I'm very comfortable standing here today," said Bray, adding that he expected the Maine Department of Transportation to approve the project within a few weeks.
Board member Bud Hanson said that traffic already was a problem in Scarborough and that he expected it would continue to be. He also expressed concern about impacts of the proposed development beyond the area studied, including issues of public safety caused by the increase in visitors.
Board member Bill Shanahan, who pointed out that there is no certainty that many of the road improvements that were included in the traffic study will go forward, asked NNE's Gene Beaudoin if the only road improvements NNE was planning for the town were the improvements proposed directly along the development.
"Its about 2,000 feet, but its also costs $2 million," answered Beaudoin.
"And how much is the developer getting back from the (Tax Increment Financing)?" asked Shanahan.
"Seven million dollars," said Beaudoin.
"Okay," said Shanahan. "I just wanted to make that clear."
The traffic study also determined that NNE would be required to pay around $461,624 in impact fees due to the traffic produced by the development. The town has numerous formal and informal impact fees established to raise funds for road improvement projects in specific areas of town.
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