By Nate Jones

Staff Writer 

New England Expedition – the developer behind the Scarborough Gateway project, including the new Cabela’s retail store – nearly had their plans to begin construction on three buildings kicked to the curb by Scarborough Planning Board Chairman Paul Allen, who, at Monday’s meeting, said he “had issues” with the proposed sidewalks, landscaping and parking lot spaces for the project, which includes the 90,000 square foot Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building that would serve as the east coast headquarters for Fairchild Semiconductor. 

“All I’m trying to do is break up a ‘sea of parking,’” Allen said. “I’m maybe being a little nitpicky here.”

New England Expedition spokesperson Gene Beaudoin said the developer was seeking approval not only to begin constructing the Fairchild Building, but a 8,700 square foot KinderCare facility, a 54,000 square foot office building and half of the “sea of parking” spaces in question. While he agreed several recommendations from the Planning Board – including expanding the sidewalk network and landscaping within the development – were appropriate, he said the parking lot was necessary to meet code. 

“We can’t approve it any other way, it’s got to go now,” Planning Board Alternate Member Jeffrey Thomas said.

Allen suggested moving a proposed 220-room hotel into the middle of the expanse of asphalt to “break it up,” but Beaudoin said the area – once a popular dumpsite – had been deemed too expensive to build on after conducting soil tests. 

“We would either have to dig the whole thing out or put in piles. If it costs another $300,000 or $400,000 it’s not going to happen. And, by the way, Fairchild is virtually insisting the hotel be there,” Beaudoin said.

Planning Board Member John Chamberlain said he believed Allen’s concerns could be addressed by adjusting the landscaping in that particular area of the project. 

“I’m not sure what the issue is,” New England Expedition legal counsel Rick Shinay said. “This isn’t Cabela’s. It’s well-landscaped, in a pretty good area and you can’t see it from the road. It’s not like you’re driving to the Maine Mall.”

“It’s limiting our ability for the whole [western portion] of the project,” Chamberlain said prior to the board’s vote. “If everyone else is good with it, I’ll give it up.” 

Both remaining planning board members – reduced to three after members Anne Littlefield and Cory Fellows recused themselves from the proceedings, as they both have done throughout the development of the project – members voted to allow construction to begin and Allen abstained from the vote, resulting in a 2 to 0 to 1 final approval. 

“I don’t understand Mr. Chairman, are you voting ‘No’?” Shinay asked.

“Based on my comments, I would think it’s obvious why I’m abstaining,” Allen said. “I am not voting on this issue.”

Carol Logan with the Scarborough Clerks Office said although only two members of the Planning Board voted on the issue, the approval was still considered valid as of Tuesday morning. 

“As long as you start with a quorum you don’t have to have four members,” she said.