The Gorham Planning Board (PB) will hold the first of two workshops on Monday, Nov. 20 to meet with the applicants, Kendrick Ballantyne and Vincent Maretta of KV Enterprises, and share information about what is involved in creating a contract zone for the proposed Robie Residential Development between South Street and New Portland Road, south of Village School.
The workshops are not public hearings, although the public is welcome to attend. After the workshops, there will be a public hearing where the Planning Board will make a recommendation to the Town Council (TC). The Town Council will then hold a public meeting followed by an up-or-down vote by the TC on the Robie Street Contract Zone.
Phase 1 of the larger project plan includes one commercial building, 38 single family houses, and 88 multi-family units. It follows the Gorham Comprehensive Plan that allows for more residential buildings close to the village. According to Town Planner Carol Eyerman, the project is completely allowed by existing zoning regulations. “Any project can and will be approved by the PB as long as it meets all the ordinance requirements,” Eyerman said.
A Growth Management Ordinance passed by the Town Council last year limits the number of units permitted in one year. The contract zoning request is to permit an increase from the allowed ten single family houses to fifteen.
According to Gorham’s Land Use and Development Code, a contract zone can be authorized for residential development “if due to the nature of the proposed development there will be significant public benefit to the community as a result of rezoning,” and as long as it is consistent with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. A contract zone can, for example, designate the conditions and limitations of the project and may include the number and types of housing, the scale and density, preservation of open spaces, and contributions toward provisions for municipal services.
If a contract zone is approved, the agreement will spell out whatever is recommended by the Planning Board and approved by the Town Council, Eyerman said. However, the TC has the right to disagree with the recommendation of the PB and add or remove anything in the final document they will vote on.
One concern is the road access to the proposed development. There are three proposed exits to South Street: Robie Street, Bramblewood Lane, and Ridgeway Ave, all narrow residential roads. The Town Council could require that the development be connected to White Birch Lane with access to New Portland Road.
Any design questions are separate from the contract zone question. These would include site plan reviews and subdivision design reviews.