By Dan Aceto

Staff Writer

A proposed zoning change for land at the crossroads of Black Point Road and Highland Avenue would allow a variety of small businesses to serve the community as a neighborhood center.

The area, which would be called Black Point Neighborhood Center, would allow mixed uses that could include small retail businesses, office space and residences, said Town Planner Dan Bacon.

The town council first must vote to rezone the land from a Business 1 (B-1) zone to Town and Village Center 3 district (TVC 3). 

Bacon said the area could serve day-to-day needs of area residents and include a general store, restaurant, hair salon, church or other small businesses. 

Assistant Town Planner Jay Chace said the exact acreage of the area has not been determined and no businesses or organizations have expressed interest in occupying any of the land.

The Town Council was scheduled to hear a first reading of the issue Wednesday, after Leader deadline.

Bacon said the decision to establish the neighborhood center is a reflection of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, accepted in 2006. 

“We’ve been working town wide, going area to area, working on various neighborhoods and commercial areas one at a time,” Bacon said.  

Bacon said the town rezoned other areas for neighborhood centers in 2009, including in north Scarborough at the intersection of County Road, Saco Street, Beech Ridge Road and Gorham Road; and Eight Corners neighborhood center, near Gorham Road and Spring Street, where a pizza store currently is located. No new businesses have been established in either location since the zoning change.

Bacon said the TVC 3 zone is a more restrictive zone for business development in comparison to the B-1 zone. He said a B-1 zone allows for construction of businesses larger than 1,000 square feet but the TVC 3 district does not and also prohibits drive through restaurants, hotels and motels.

Bacon said town officials met with residents during a neighborhood meeting Feb. 3 to discuss the zone change. Residents wanted to eliminate the option of a health club as a use in the TVC 3 zone because of previous complaints about a similar business in the area. The town will honor that request.

Although other residents were concerned about safety, traffic, lighting and noise from new businesses could present, Bacon said the meetings were successful and yielded good feedback.

“I think they were effective,” Bacon said. “We’ve made some adjustments to the proposal after meeting with residents and those who attended. I felt things went smoothly and we now have a better product.”

Paul Austin, who lives in the Black Point area, said he would not favor developing the area for any kind of use.

“Frankly, I don’t want to see any businesses in the area,” Austin said.

He said although there are some existing businesses in the Black Point area, they are located in residents’ homes and fit the general aesthetic of the neighborhood. He said the intersection where the development is proposed is frequented by pedestrians and could suffer from additional traffic.

“I don’t think we necessarily need to turn this into an area where we’re trying to encourage various kinds of small-scale businesses,” Austin said. “Anything that would encourage traffic, such as a convenience store, would not be desirable.”

A public hearing will be scheduled for the next available council meeting.

The issue also will be considered Monday at a Planning Board meeting.

Staff Writer Dan Aceto can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237.