Westbrook residents will get a chance to speak their mind next week on the proposed Dirigo Plaza shopping center during a scheduled public hearing.

The Westbrook Planning Board will host the public hearing at its regular meeting Tuesday, July 19, at 7 p.m.

As the proposal moves ahead in the approval process, it may be one of the final opportunities for Westbrook residents to comment on the project, which would develop nearly 500,000 square feet on the former Pike Industries property off Main Street.

Only one tenant – Walmart – has been announced so far, news that was met with mixed reaction from the community. Jeff Gove, of J&J Gove Development, said Wednesday that there are no more tenant announcements at the moment, but that more tenants will be unveiled soon, and will include a mix of retail and restaurants.

Members of the Planning Board have expressed high hopes for the project, which is slated to include a pedestrian-centric design. The deep gravel pit operated by Pike Industries will become a pond, a focal point of the site plan featuring a walking path. The pit is already filling with water.

According to City Planner Jennie Franceschi, since the developers first came to the Planning Board, there have been at least six workshops on the site design due to the size of the development. These have discussed everything from the building designs, parking, stormwater, lighting, landscaping and a joint meeting with neighboring Portland on the traffic impact.

“At this point we feel like we have enough information to go to public hearing, and at least get the feedback from the public on what has been provided,” she said.

The Planning Board is not required to hold another public hearing on this project, unless there is “major concern raised during the course of the public hearing,” Franceschi said.

Based on the comments made next week, J&J Gove Development can address concerns raised and come back to the board, most likely in September, for final approval. Franceschi also expects at that time that the developer will be close to having all the necessary state approvals from the Maine departments of environmental protection, transportation and more.

A regular agenda item on Dirigo Plaza is also scheduled following the public hearing, which Franceschi said gives the board an opportunity to further discuss the project and answer potential questions posed during the hearing.

Another possible point of concern from residents could be for the traffic impact on an already busy area.

The joint meeting with Portland in May focused largely on a traffic study conducted by Jeff Dirk, a traffic engineer from Vanasse & Associates working for J&J Gove Development. The study predicted more than 13,300 new trips to the site on an average weekday, and 18,800 on a peak Saturday.

The two cities, along with the Maine Department of Transportation, have since discussed potential intersection upgrades for a number of surrounding intersections. The main entrances to the site will be on Main Street, Larrabee Road and the Westbrook Arterial.

As far as the approvals process, Gove said they are moving along, but said the Maine Department of Transportation has been the slowest. The development team is meeting with department officials on Monday (the night before the public hearing), where Gove said he hopes they can “agree on a mitigation package” for the traffic impact.

“I think the project’s in good shape overall,” he said.

A Pike Industries backhoe dumps dirt into the company’s gravel pit in April. The pit, which will be allowed to fill completely with water, is designed as a centerpiece of the proposed Dirigo Plaza retail center in Westbrook. A public hearing on the project is set for Tuesday, July 19.