OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Planning Board is holding off approval of a modular building on the Old Orchard Beach High School campus until concerns of neighbors are addressed.

Regional School Unit 23 is seeking to move a special education-based alternative high school program, formerly known as the Saco Transitions Program, to the Old Orchard Beach High School campus. The program, recently renamed TIDES, serves students in Old Orchard Beach and Saco. Most of the students who attend the program are from Old Orchard Beach, as many Saco students seeking this sort of educational program attend a similar program at Thornton Academy.

The RSU has proposed housing the program in a 62-by-68-foot modular building that would be installed on the far side of the larger parking lot.

The proposal must receive Planning Board approval before the RSU can move forward.

After hearing concerns from abutters at a neighboring condominium catering to residents 55 and older, the Planning Board tabled a decision whether to approve the proposal and asked the RSU take steps to address concerns raised.

Birch Hill Condominium Association President Dorothy Schlueb said the trees planted along the edge of the high school property did not provide enough of a buffer, and would continue not to, as they were growing taller and not wider.

“I do feel that we need more buffering there,” she said.

Gables Way resident Bob Heyner said he was concerned that rainwater flowing off the proposed building would run off to an area that was already eroded and cause further damage.

Town Planner Jeffrey Hinderliter said the tree line on the edge of the property met the town’s buffering standards.

“This may be legal, what’s there, but I’d like to see a lot more buffering over there, just to protect the neighborhood,” said Planning Board Chairman Eber Weinstein.

RSU 23 Operations Manager Jay Kelley said the proposed building would have a flat roof with downspouts, and water could be diverted.

Planning Board Member Win Winch said the proposed building would be installed over the parking lot, and would not increase impervious surface, and with downspouts redirecting runoff, this could be an opportunity to improve where rainwater is going.

“I think it’s a better solution than what we have now,” he said.

The Planning Board will vote on whether to approve the proposal on Aug. 6, after the RSU meets with its engineering firm to address concerns raised at Thursday’s meeting, including increasing the buffering, answering questions about drainage and considering a different spot for the proposed modular.

“We’ve had a good discussion tonight,” said Planning Board Vice Chairman Mark Koenig, but he said he wanted to make sure the project didn’t have an adverse effect on the neighborhood, and he didn’t want to rush into making any decisions.

The proposed modular would be the second one on the Old Orchard Beach High School campus. A modular building for a different alternative education program was installed a few years ago.

“When we put last modular in, we did everything the condo association asked us to do. We put in 19 trees, we buffered it with what we thought was acceptable,” said Kelley.

The Planning Board did approve a 27-by-52-foot modular building and a 5-by-10-foot hallway attached to Loranger Middle School which will provide additional classroom space and space for behavioral and academic intervention programs.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].