FALMOUTH – The local chamber of commerce has asked the Town Council to delay its anticipated approval of a 50,000-square-foot limit on the ground-floor size of businesses in the Route 1 commercial corridor.
The Falmouth-Cumberland Community Chamber sent a letter to the council on Monday, asking town officials to work with the business community to find “a resolution which works for everyone” and “will promote a stronger economy in Falmouth.”
The chamber held an informational forum on the issue last week, when business owners noted several planned investments that would be discouraged or defeated by a 50,000-square-foot limit, according to chamber President Eric Anton.
The council is scheduled to vote Oct. 22 on the “footprint” limit, which is designed to block additional big-box stores and promote a village atmosphere in an area that’s now lined with strip malls.
Five of the seven councilors have indicated that they support the proposed limit, said Councilor Bonny Rodden, chairwoman of the council’s Community Development Committee, which is developing the new zoning.
Two councilors and many business owners favor a 90,000-square-foot limit.
If the council doesn’t decide to postpone its vote and seek further study, the chamber asked councilors to vote against the 50,000-square-foot limit. The chamber represents more than 100 businesses.
The Route 1 business district now has no size limit for commercial buildings, so Walmart’s planned expansion from 92,000 to 124,000 square feet was approved.
A major concern in developing new zoning for the commercial corridor is the 216,000-square-foot Falmouth Shopping Center, which has several vacancies.
A community survey in 2009 showed that a majority of residents wanted to limit the size of individual commercial uses in the shopping center to 75,000 or 90,000 square feet, depending on how the question was asked.
Last year, the council advised its Community Development Committee to consider a 90,000-square-foot limit when drafting new zoning for Route 1.
Staff Writer Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6328 or at: kbouchard@pressherald.com
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