BRUNSWICK

Brunswick’s planning board may soon be taking up a new, large development at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. Developer Jim Howard said the board will take up a proposed common development plan July 1 to pave the way for his plans at Brunswick Landing.

The common development plan is a way for a developer to propose different development of dimensional standards, according to Town Planner Jeremy Doxsee.

Howard’s company, Priority Real Estate Group LLC, is proposing a $20 million development of eight buildings and 10 additional lots.

The development would encompass lots within Brunswick Landing that front Bath Road across from the Shaw’s shopping plaza, continue west toward Brunswick Landing’s main entrance, and continue down Admiral Fitch Avenue. It would total 19 acres.

Businesses would include a convenience store and gas station to service people working at Brunswick Landing, meaning they wouldn’t have to venture off the former base for those services.

Howard said he is also in negotiations with a bank to open a branch at Brunswick Landing, as well as a national chain restaurant and a veterinary clinic.

He is also in preliminary talks with a customer that could lead to 25,000-30,000 square feet of office space, and another 20,000 square feet of mixed use and storage space.

Another 53,000 square feet of development at the former Navy Exchange is under contract.

“Our main focus right now, to get front of property developed to create a gateway to the property,” said Howard.

Buildings would be one to four stories using materials for “traditional New England style construction,” according to a May 27 memo to Doxsee from Sitelines P.A. on behalf of Priority and the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority that oversees Brunswick Landing.

Howard’s proposed design standards would include landscaping, setbacks, sidewalks, building facades, lighting, parking, and pedestrian and bike paths among other facades.

The common development plan would differ from current zoning in several areas, including minimum building heights, building frontage and yard size.

Howard has already invested $5 million at Brunswick Landing, including the $1.1 million purchase of the former Navy Lodge and Navy Recreation Center buildings, which sit adjacent to each other on the northwest corner of Pegasus Street and Burbank Avenue. The buildings are being remodeled for tenants, Providence Service Corp. Howard also leases space to the Mid-Coast Veterans Council’s Midcoast Veterans Resource Center for $1 a year.

Brunswick Landing is an attractive development, said Howard, because infrastructure such as water, sewer and natural gas are already there. Wide open roads makes transportation easy, and the site is relatively close to thoroughfares Route 1 and Interstate 295, and plenty of room for development.

“If you want to put in a 35,000 square foot office building, where would you do it?” he said. “Where would the community college go, if not for Brunswick Landing?”

Howard also said he expects Brunswick Executive Airport to continue to grow.

“We haven’t even seen the draw that the airport will bring over the next decade,” said Howard.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com

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