The plan for Oscar Emery Drive does away with the small rotary that connects to Front Street and Gowen Park Drive. Number One Pond is at the bottom of the picture, Stump Pond at the top.
By Jack McAdam
The Sanford Planning Board recently got a closer look at two city projects that will affect transportation and parking around town. Both are to be funded by federal infrastructure grants.
The more visible of the projects reviewed on May 6 is reconstruction of roads downtown and around Number One Pond. The city is applying for site plan and shoreline zoning approval to complete work that will create more landscaping and pedestrian and bicycle access. The changes will include eliminating the roundabout that connects Gowen Park Drive with William Oscar Emery Drive.
City staff raised some concerns about the project. Parks and Recreation Director Brady Lloyd said his department doesn’t have the staff to maintain all the new plantings. There are also concerns about where the bicycle path intersects with Oscar Emery Drive and the safety of staff who will care for median plantings.
The other federal grant project is for a park and ride facility on Emerson Street, site of the former Emerson School. The city has an easement to use Cumberland Farms property to exit onto Emerson Street. Drivers will be able to use the gas station property to get access to the Main Street traffic light.
Also in May, the board reviewed a preliminary major subdivision site plan and private way off New Dam Road. The developer, Wilderness Way LLC, wants to amend the second phase of the project to include four lots instead of eight. There were questions at the May 20 meeting about whether the private way can address three of the four lots and the fourth lot with a driveway off New Dam Road.
On April 15, the board gave final site plan and shoreland zoning approval for redevelopment of the Stenton Mill building at 13 River St., near High Street. The approval includes improvements to property owned by the Sanford Sewerage District. The Stenton building was one of two long-vacant mill buildings at the site. The other was destroyed by fire in 2017 and later demolished.
It also reviewed a preliminary subdivision application from Nasson Development LLC for 13 townhouse condominium units and parking on Barth Way in Springvale. The property was formerly part of Nasson College. The board said the applicant must correct several conditions before coming back for final approval.
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