Arguing that the zoning in Mill Creek is significantly out of date, a South Portland committee has proposed a new master plan that would transform the area into more of a traditional downtown.

Residents will get a chance to comment on the draft plan, which was created by the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee, during a public meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, at City Hall.

In 2012, the city of South Portland adopted a new comprehensive plan and one of the key elements of that plan was to make Mill Creek into a “vibrant” mixed-use district, including commercial, residential, governmental and cultural uses, according to the proposed master plan.

The plan calls Mill Creek “the historic heart of the city” and said that “enhancing (the area) as a vibrant commercial center with a more diverse mix of uses that is more pedestrian friendly is essential to achieving the city’s vision for its future.”

In a memo sent to the City Council last week by Planning and Development Director Tex Haeuser, he said the zoning hasn’t changed in Mill Creek for the past 50 years and the area is still more of a “post-World War II auto-oriented suburban center” than a traditional downtown.

In his comments to the council, City Manager Jim Gailey said a lot of work had already gone into the creation of the draft master plan, but he also said “hopefully it will only get stronger” as the public input process moves forward.

Chairing the Feb. 4 meeting in the absence of Mayor Linda Cohen, Councilor Claude Morgan encouraged residents to take a look at the plan prior to the upcoming public meeting.

“It’s a very interesting proposal for this part of the city,” he added.

In his memo, Haeuser said it’s important that people realize the examples for redevelopment and growth in Mill Creek only reflect what could happen.

“The evolution of Mill Creek is dependent on property owners and developers. Change will occur only through the cooperation and the joint work of the city and the private sector,” he said.

According to the proposed master plan for Mill Creek, the purpose is to “transform (the area) over the next 20 years into more of a traditional downtown with a mix of (uses) and a distinct identity.”

In reviewing the history of planning for Mill Creek, the draft plan said, the city has already “spent considerable time and resources thinking about and planning for Mill Creek, however, the various pieces were never integrated into a clear vision for the future.”

That’s why the proposed master plan is designed to be “actionable.” In fact, the draft document said, “Very little that is in the plan is new or has not been discussed before. The master plan has (just) taken the best ideas and organized them based on a vision for the future of Mill Creek.”

The master plan has six broad objectives designed around making public investments to encourage and support private redevelopment; revising the zoning to encourage redevelopment in accordance with the vision and objectives of the master plan; and working with property owners and developers as in Mill Creek.

The overall vision for the area is to have Mill Creek “evolve into a model for a sustainable urban downtown with a distinct identity as a green and livable place,” the proposed master plan states.

For that to happen Mill Creek must become “a pedestrian-focused neighborhood while retaining its role as a community commercial center,” the draft document adds.

The goal is for the single-story strip malls and large parking lots to be replaced by multi-story, mixed-use buildings with ground floor shops and restaurants, along with on-street and centralized public parking.

The six objectives are, No. 1, to make Mill Creek more of a pedestrian-focused neighborhood by enhancing the ability of people to easily and safely move around the neighborhood on foot.

No. 2 is to “establish Mill Creek as a distinct and special place with a clear identity, attractive gateways and a high-quality visual environment so (it) becomes both a destination and a place where people want to spend time and live.”

Objective No. 3 is to “make Mill Creek greener with more green spaces, trees, landscaping and flowers, better connections between parks and (construction of) green, energy-efficient buildings and improved stormwater management.”

No. 4 is to increase the diversity and intensity of uses and activities in Mill Creek so that, “over time, it becomes a true mixed-use downtown neighborhood with a focus on encouraging the development of multi-story, mixed-use buildings within a more pedestrian-focused, urban environment.”

Objective No. 5 is to create a transition between Mill Creek and Knightville to protect Knightville’s residential character. And No. 6 is to take steps to minimize the potential impacts of increased flooding from storms and sea level rise so Mill Creek “can remain a viable and attractive area in which people want to live, visit and invest.”

Specific recommendations to meet these objectives include reconstructing the intersection of Ocean and Broadway to eliminate the right-turn lane and make it easier for pedestrians to cross Broadway and Ocean Street.

The draft master plan also encourages the development and implementation of a directional signage program throughout Mill Creek and requiring new developments to provide pedestrian connections.

Another recommendation in the proposed plan is to “create distinctive gateway treatments” on the Mill Creek side of the Broadway intersections with Waterman Drive, Ocean Street and Cottage Road.

The plan also suggests that the appearance of Mill Creek be improved from the Casco Bay Bridge approach by establishing a landscaped buffer between Erskine and Waterman drives and Broadway.

To make Mill Creek physically greener, the plan also calls for the development of a planter box program for area businesses. Another green initiative would include the establishment of a Mill Creek Parking District.

Haeuser said his goal is to gather public input on the plan, then develop a final draft, which would first go to the City Council in a workshop session. The ultimate hope is for the council to adopt the plan.

This image shows how Mill Creek could be redeveloped into a more traditional downtown with multi-story, multi-use buildings.Image courtesy of the Sustain Southern Maine ProjectThis image shows Mill Creek Park, lower left, and the Hannaford grocery store, at right. Courtesy photo

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