BIDDEFORD — New apartments and perhaps some resident-owned units, retail space on Pearl Street and a couple of restaurants, each sporting three-season outside dining with riverside views, are included in an initial proposal for redevelopment of a portion of 3 Lincoln St. in Biddeford.

The Planning Board heard a preliminary presentation, called a sketch plan, at a recent meeting. It is an initial step – a view to what developer 3 Lincoln LLC, associated with Fathom Companies, currently envisions for the space.

The developer proposes to subdivide the city-owned former Maine Energy Recovery Company site into four separate lots — the city-owned parking garage is on Lot 2; a city park is proposed for Lot 4,  near the Saco River; and Lot 1, along the corner of Lincoln and Pearl streets, is proposed to remain undeveloped at this stage, according to Assistant City Planner Hannah Bonine.

Development is being proposed for Lot 3.

Project Manager Peter Heil of Acorn Engineering told the Planning Board a residential and mixed use building currently designated as building A in Lot 3 could contain as many as 83 residential units and some mixed small commercial spaces to try to activate the street front. Building B would be a 108-unit residential structure, and building C, a restaurant/commercial two-story building proposed to have two restaurants with an estimated 300 seats.

The developers are working with the city and Maine Department of Transportation on a traffic movement permit, Heil said. As well, 3 Lincoln LLC is looking to forge an agreement with developers of property on Gooch Street and the former Diamond Match property, the city, and the state transportation department “to provide a combined concept approach (for) a transit-oriented, multi-modal and walkable development.”

Some parking is planned for the two residential buildings onsite, with the parking garage in the mix, Heil said.

“To meet the city’s parking requirement, we have begun discussions with the parking garage manager to secure offsite leases, so as programming progresses, we will refine parking calculations and provide offsite parking through the garage,” he said.

When the site was occupied by MERC, it sported 7 acres of impervious surface.

“We’re proposing to construct and install green space to help the flow with the riverfront park and bring back a buffer from the river,” said Heil.

Jesse Thompson of Kaplan Thompson Architects said the shape and form of the proposed buildings is similar to the unique architecture in the city’s mill district.

There is a wide range of residential units — studios, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom residences, he said.

“We’re trying to get a great view of the river and falls, and line it up so you can see over the open space with gorgeous views,” Thompson said.

Planning Board Associate Member Michael Cantara asked what percentage of the proposed 191 units would qualify as affordable housing.

“We’re looking into all potential arrangements of how we could accommodate different percentages of affordable versus market rate living,” said Fathom Companies Director of Development Marieke Thormann. “We are definitely using that as a catalyst to create a diverse group of apartments. At this phase, we have not identified a percentage.”

She said building A, the proposed 83-unit structure, is being contemplated as dwellings residents would buy, rather than rent.

“We’re looking to create a new product in the Biddeford market accessible not only for affordable (living), but for people looking to buy something that is not a single family,” she said.

In all, Thormann said, the company hopes to present a range from affordable to market rate dwellings.

According to a memo prepared by Bonine, subdivision applications typically follow a three-phase process beginning with sketch plan review, followed by a preliminary plan and approval, and then a final plan and approval.

Another Planning Board member asked why redevelopment was not focused on businesses.

Initially, Thormann said, an office building was planned on Lot 3, but that was before the pandemic.

“The need for office spaces is reduced drastically,” she said. “And the tenants out there are not the office users.” She said conversations are taking place with other potential tenants — universities and institutional users. “So far we’re not getting enough traction to move them forward to a sketch plan,” she said.

Planning Board member Roch Angers spoke about his concerns regarding traffic.

“We’re starting to compact a lot of vehicles in a small area, and Route 1 is a two-lane road,” he said, adding he hopes the developers, city and MDOT can produce a workable plan.

Bonine, in her memo, said city staff is working with Maine Department of Environmental Protection to explore changes to Biddeford’s Shoreland Zoning in the downtown and mill district areas. She said future review of the project will be determined with how the amendment discussion with Maine DEP progresses.

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