WESTBROOK – The Westbrook City Council voted Monday to send a new purchase and sale agreement for the former Prides Corner Elementary School to a public hearing after a well-known Greater Portland developer offered to buy the former school property to build approximately 40 condominiums on the 10-acre site.

The new proposal came just weeks after the council, following concerns from neighbors, rejected a plan for a 98-unit apartment complex proposed by V&E Enterprises of South Portland. Neighbors were troubled by the scope of the proposal, as well as its possible impact on schools and traffic.

The new proposal is from Stephen Goodrich, CEO of the Portland-based credit card processor, PowerPay. He also owns properties in Biddeford, Scarborough and Portland. He is offering $485,000 for the property, compared to the $650,000 offered under the previous plan. However, Goodrich’s proposal would build about half the number of units proposed by the prior plan.

According to a notice sent to Prides Corner neighbors last week, the purchase and sale agreement is contingent on Planning Board subdivision approval of the allowed units “to be constructed in accordance with the property’s existing zoning standards.”

City Administrator Jerre Bryant said on Monday that there has not been a determination made yet from Goodrich on whether he will reuse the existing school building as part of the development.

Bryant said the number of units allowed on the land, which is 48 under the zoning, will be determined from a final survey of the land. “We estimate it will be in the low 40’s, but at this point it is stated as the number of units allowed under the zoning.”

Bryant added that the condominiums will be market-rate and unsubsidized. During discussions on the prior proposal calling for 98 units, residents resisted the plan due to traffic concerns, impacts on the Westbrook school system, and buffer zones.

According to council packet details, “this proposal represents a much less intense use of the property and corresponding reductions in any potential impacts relative to traffic and school enrollments.”

Councilor Mike Sanphy, whose ward encompasses the Prides Corner parcel, said Monday that moving the agreement forward is important in order to have a public hearing on the proposal.

“We just want to get this thing going in the right direction,” he said. “There are a lot of people who will want to speak on this.”

Sanphy also raised the question of whether a traffic study would be conducted as part of the approval process.

Mark Malone, the broker who is representing the city in the sale of the property, said Goodrich is looking for the development to be “Brydon Farms-compatible,” which would see condominiums on the site similar in size and price as neighboring Brydon Farms condos.

The council voted 6-1 to send the agreement to a public hearing. The lone “no” vote was provided by council President Brendan Rielly, who believes that the city should hold onto the property.

“I understand the costs of keeping it, but I think there’s going to be a need for it,” he said. Rielly added that it is a “pet peeve” when the council receives a development plan but cannot be guaranteed it will result in what is promised by the developer.

Due to Goodrich’s proposal working under the existing zone, a zone change is not required, but the Planning Board subdivision process and public hearings will still take place.

“This will still see significant review of the development and significant public input for the impacted residents,” said Councilor Mike Foley.

Foley also shared a letter sent to the council from an area resident who has been attempting to rally a citizen’s initiative to require a public referendum for each sale of city-owned property.

“All property sales should go to referendum for voter approval,” the letter said.

The letter stated that using Prides Corner School as a topic of interest, 700 signatures were collected.

However, City Clerk Lynda Adams said the petition did not follow city guidelines because the resident did not request formal petition papers, which she urged the individual to do.

The former Prides Corner Elementary School, is the site of a proposed condominium development.