This shows an early concept of how Saco’s new schools might be configured on city owned parcels at 841-853 Portland Road and is subject to change. The Saco School Board on Oct. 12 unanimously approved moving forward with the site. Superintendent Jeremy Ray said much work has to be done before final determinations can be made. Courtesy Image
SACO — The Saco School Board voted unanimously to recommend the so-called Clair properties — which are city-owned land parcels at 841-853 Portland Road (Route 1) — as the location for an elementary school construction project.
The school board had also looked at the Saco Middle School site after learning its first choice was not available as landowner Sweetser looked to examine its own future needs and plans.
Choosing the Portland Road properties means the school department can move forward with a straw poll and additional traffic and environmental studies with a view for inclusion on the State Board of Education’s ‘s agenda for approval late winter, said Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray.
“In order to make the November (2023) ballot, we need concept approval by this spring,” Ray told the school board on Oct. 12.
The project comes under the Maine Department of Education’s school construction funding program, which picks up the lion’s share of the cost of an approved project.
“I’m really excited to get this moving forward and take advantage of state funding,” said School Board member Sarah Truman.
School board members walked the Portland Road properties earlier in October.
Board member Beth Johnston said that initially, the Portland Road site was not her favorite location, but she has changed her view. “I’m very excited about this property” after walking it, Johnston said.
“This was a little difficult for me,” said member Arthur Archie. “It wasn’t our first choice and it felt like in the last few months we have been talking about why these parcels don’t work. But I feel we’ve done a lot of work with the Clair parcel — it has become a good first option.”
Archie said he would have liked to have the school in his ward — but he noted the Saco Middle School property could not handle the traffic — one of a couple of issues with that location, he said.
Ray told the school board an abutter to the Portland Road properties had expressed interest in selling land to the school department. He noted the current land parcels could be used on their own, but that acquiring additional land could prove useful for future needs.
In order to acquire the abutting land, the school department would undertake the state prescribed process of getting appraisals and an option.
“This would be a piece of property paid by the project,” said Ray.
The next steps for the city-owned Portland Road properties include a full traffic review, environmental assessment, and wetland delineations.
Highlights of the city-owned Portland Road property include that there appears to be enough buildable land for two schools — there has been discussion of building a second elementary school, funded by Saco taxpayers, at the same time. A memo from Ray to the school board dated Oct. 7 noted the city would proceed with acquiring the abutting parcel, but can proceed without it.
Further attributes, according to the memo, include that the property has access to high-capacity roads, transportation, public works, and is near the current student population center. In addition, it has access to natural habitat, including a potential Eastern Trail link and buffers from road noise and development.
The Oct. 7 memo noted there were “no significant vernal pools, no current evidence of environmental contamination, and no known development restrictions.”
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