The Capital Improvement Projects/Economic Development Committee met on Thursday, June 18, with all three committee members present.

Opening the meeting, committee chair Lou Simms acknowledged the several members of the public who were in attendance in response to the discussion at the prior meeting regarding parking at Gorham High School. It was noted that the committee would continue its discussion of the parking plans at its July 16 meeting, so as to allow appropriate staff members, including the Director of Public Works, to be present. Nevertheless, before moving to current business, the committee allowed comments on the parking item. A member of the public voiced several traffic and safety concerns on behalf of area residents and expressed opposition to having a large parking lot in the neighborhood.

Under current business, the committee reviewed the latest findings and updated designs of the wayfinding signage project and voted unanimously to send the wayfinding signage designs to the full Town Council for review.

Also on the agenda was discussion of strategies for updating Gorham’s zoning map to promote higher-value development that generates more net positive property tax revenues, particularly in areas along Main Street from the Industrial Park to the Village Center, as well as other growth areas such as the Little Falls Village area. The committee agreed to continue reviewing this item at a future meeting, pending the timing of the Village Master Plan.

The Planning Board held its monthly meeting on Monday, July 6, with four members (Benson, Frank, Delaney, Nichols) present and three (Hager, Walsh, Crisafulli) absent. On the agenda was review of a sketch site plan related to a proposal by the Southern Maine Community Recreation Center for expansion of the Gorham Sports Center site, located at 215 Narragansett Street, zoned Narragansett Mixed-Use Development (ND). The plan, which involves expansion of the existing recreation center site by adding a paved access road, two all-purpose athletic fields, and covered bleachers, as well as a land swap with an abutting parcel, was discussed.

An additional Planning Board meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 20, at 7 p.m. at the Gorham Municipal Center. Amazon.com Services LLC will present its revised application for construction of a 146,280 square foot “last mile” warehouse facility on Main Street (Route 25), east of the town center. This agenda item is designated as a public hearing.