A controversial proposal to construct an office building in South Portland that would house offices of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services can now be viewed online.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday posted the site-review application submitted by Jetport State Building LLC, a company formed by ELC Management Inc. of Portland to build the project at 151 Jetport Blvd., near the Portland International Jetport.

The application, prepared by Mitchell & Associates Landscape Architects of Portland, includes architectural drawings of the proposed two-story, 75,000-square-foot building and stormwater management plans for the 10-acre property. It also includes a wetlands report from Albert Frick Associates Inc. of Gorham.

State officials plan to move the Cumberland County offices of DHHS and the state Department of Labor from Portland’s Bayside neighborhood to the South Portland location in early 2015. They chose ELC’s lease proposal from four proposals that were submitted in response to the state’s formal request.

A Portland landlord who submitted one of the other proposals is challenging the state’s choice in court. Portland officials and advocates for DHHS clients have protested the planned move, saying it would make it difficult for some people to access services.

Last week, state officials said they have negotiated a 30-year lease with ELC that would save taxpayers more than $23.4 million compared to the current DHHS offices on Marginal Way in Portland.

DEP staff members visited the South Portland site Tuesday. They have six months to complete their review, but they usually issue permits within two months.

Kelley Bouchard can be reached at 791-6328 or at:kbouchard@pressherald.comTwitter: @KelleyBouchard


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