Local developer Rocco Risbara is hoping the town of Scarborough will approve a zone change on 11 acres off Mussey Road that would allow him to build 72 market-rate apartments at the site.

Although some reservations were expressed during its meeting last week, the Town Council took the first step toward allowing the zone change, which now goes to the Planning Board for review and recommendation.

Councilor Chris Caiazzo, who is running for the House District 28 seat this fall against state Rep. Heather Sirocki, said his concerns about the proposal are based on its size and possible impact on the wetlands that make up a large portion of the parcel.

However, he voted with the rest of the council to allow the zone change to move to the next step. While a Planning Board recommendation is required, the council has the ultimate authority about whether to approve the proposal.

“My concern is that this would shoehorn a lot of development onto a site with a delicate wetland that feeds into the Nonesuch River,” Caiazzo said at the Oct. 19 council meeting.

“I also feel that this is a big impact on the neighborhood and that it would change the dynamics quite a bit,” he added. “I want to hear from the neighbors that they’re OK with it.”

Councilor Peter Hayes agreed, and said that his ultimate decision on whether to approve the zone change would come down to how people in the neighborhood feel about the project.

“If there any concerns, please let us know so that we can factor that into our decision making,” he said.

In addition to Caiazzo’s overall concerns, he would also prefer to see an affordable element to the project. That idea was echoed by resident Marjorie DeSanctis, a member of the town’s Housing Alliance and one of four candidates running for a seat on the Town Council this fall.

“I think this is an excellent project,” DeSanctis said, “but I wish at least one building could be affordable. I think that would make it more perfect.”

However, others on the council argued that Risbara’s development plan, which consists of one- and two-bedroom apartments with the rent also covering heat and hot water, is just the type of workforce housing that Scarborough’s been clamoring for.

“We are in desperate need of rental property,” Councilor Kate St. Clair said, “and it’s imperative that we accommodate the workforce. (With this) we are making progress at least.”

Bill Donovan, the council chairman, said, “This meets a need for people who work in Scarborough to live in Scarborough.”

“We’re seeing high demand in the rental market right now,” Risbara said, adding that he anticipates the development project could bring in $7 million to $8 million in taxable value, while putting very little demand on municipal services.

He said the access road would be privately maintained, trash pick-up would also be through a private contractor and, with one or two bedrooms, there would be very few children in the complex so there would be little impact on school enrollment.

The goal, according to Risbara, would be to build six, 12-unit buildings, very similar to those his company has built at the Blue Spruce Farm development off Spring Street in Westbrook.

He anticipates the rents would be $1,350 a month for the one-bedroom units and $1,450 a month for the two-bedroom. He said the units his company has built in Westbrook are “very popular.”

Risbara’s Westbrook development, which is entering its second phase, has faced strong criticism from neighbors, who point to a negative impact on the schools and the neighborhood. The criticism sparked a proposed six-month residential development moratorium, but it was defeated Monday by the City Council.

With ongoing and increasing demand for smaller rental units, Risbara said, “the time is now” for this project, particularly as interest rates are so favorable.

At the request of Scarborough’s Long-Range Planning Committee, which gave the zone change a positive recommendation, Risbara held a neighborhood meeting on the project and said “there was good conversation and good input with no negative comments.”

Though the parcel Risbara wants to develop is owned by one landowner, there are three different zones on the site, one of which is Town and Village Center 3, which allows for mixed-use development, including multifamily housing. Risbara wants the land to be entirely zoned for Town and Village Center 3.

Dan Bacon, Scarborough’s town planner, told the council last week that the Eight Corners area of town “is envisioned as a neighborhood center” under the comprehensive plan.

“We’re quite excited to get this parcel,” Risbara said, “We feel a multifamily project is very appropriate for this site and that it would be a good transition from the residential to the commercial” zones on that end of Mussey Road.

“From a real estate standpoint this makes good sense,” said Councilor Jean-Marie Caterina, who is running for the Maine Senate against Amy Volk. “I think eventually we will have walkability” all across the neighborhood, where, she said, “a lot of things are happening.”

Rocco Risbara is hoping to build 12-unit apartment buildings, like this one his company constructed in Westbrook, on an 11-acre parcel off Mussey Road in Scarborough.

A proposed layout of six, 12-unit apartment buildings off Mussey Road in Scarborough that could be built by Rocco Risbara if the town approves a needed zone change.