By Nate Jones

Staff Writer

Greener Pastures Scarborough, LLC, spokesman Paul Feingold said the Walgreen’s corporation considered scrapping their plans for a 13,150 square foot pharmacy building at the corner of Route 1 and Gorham Road due to the “state of the economy.”

“I would ask that we all move expeditiously before they change their minds,” Feingold told the planning board earlier this week. 

Although the developer may be in a hurry, Planning Board Chairman Paul Allen said rushing for final approval could ultimately end up delaying the project. He said the board received the preliminary plan just hours before their meeting earlier this week, allowing little time to “digest” any modifications.

“It’s probably a good thing this isn’t up for final approval,” he said. “We’re not in favor of receiving this at the last minute.”

Overall, members of the board were largely satisfied with the proposed aesthetic design of the building and the new traffic patterns associated with a 50-car parking lot to the north, some were not convinced a “non-mechanical” storm water treatment tank designed by Bohler Engineering firm’s Josh Sperling was sufficient for the site’s redevelopment.

“It sounds a little too simplistic,” Planning Board member Anne Littlefield said. 

Sperling reminded the board that there is currently no storm water pretreatment mechanism installed at the site and the preliminary design increases the square footage of the existing building, eliminating pavement runoff that could contain oil deposits.

“I’m a simple man when it comes to storm water,” he said. “You can have a much more expensive system with which contractors are not well versed on how to install and vendors don’t know how to clean. This is as simple as cleaning a catch basin: it’s just a big tank.”

Town Planner Dan Bacon said the property -– previously occupied by a Burger King restaraunt – has been vacant for at least four years.

“[Walgreen’s] is a great project and it will clean up that corner somewhat,” Planning Board alternate Jeffrey Thomas said.