Lincoln Village should go through
To the editor,
What a mess in the Saco government concerning the Lincoln Village project. The project would provide much needed housing at work force housing prices. I am a realtor – try finding a new home in Saco for the low 300’s. What could go wrong? A local nimby group is dragging the developer through the mud. Mind you this is after multiple approvals at the state and local level. The planning board is supposed to approve or disapprove based on the ordinances at hand not at the behest of a group who has decided they don’t like this project. Planning board members are appointed, not elected. The land was purchased, approvals given, and what I am witnessing is an extreme group, the same group by the way, that derailed a former project at this location and made accusations based not on fact but emotion. It’s time to allow the planning board to do its job. I am looking for leadership from the new mayor — allowing the planning board to do its job and not be swayed by emotion but what they are charged with doing — evaluating a project against ordinances.
Susan Croteau
Associate Broker
Signature Homes Real Estate Group, LLC
To the editor,
I grew up in Marshfield, Massachusetts, and had thought I would raise my family there. I am a teacher now in Maine. We moved because housing prices were out of control, and we could not afford to live there any longer. In Maine, we worked with Loni Gravier to build our first home — sold it, and built a second with Gravier’s company. We loved the craftsmanship and care that went into both of our homes. Gravier is the same builder trying to build workforce housing in Saco. I read about what has happened in that community. Like the rest of Maine, Saco is stretched for affordable housing. Gravier and his team got their planning board approvals, but a citizens group rose up, saying they didn’t want the homes in their backyard. What a missed opportunity for southern Maine. What a missed opportunity for people who are teachers, and civil servants if this project doesn’t move forward. I am concerned that what happened in Massachusetts around housing is about to become the story for many people in Maine.
Erik Whitaker
To the editor,
My name is Drew Preston and I am a local developer in Southern Maine. Most recently have been part of the housing development located at Brunswick Landing, the formal Naval Air Station. I have worked with several community planning boards, zoning departments, and collaborated with numerous staff departments within these local towns as part of the permitting process. It has been stated publicly for years Maine needs more housing. Recent statistics provided by Maine State Housing demonstrate the sheer number of housing units needed immediately is staggering. Many communities share the same opinion that housing is needed across the board.
I am currently a bit confused over the denial by the Saco Planning Board regarding the residential housing project located at 321 Lincoln Road, Saco. The zoning was recently adjusted after a failed attempt was made to build mid-rise apartments on the subject property. The current developer purchased the project subject to this revised zoning and designed a project that met the new guidelines. Preliminary approval was received only to then be denied later by the Saco Planning Board. I have spoken to several civil engineers that have extensive experience in navigating residential development approvals in Maine and none could remember any project that was ever denied after receiving preliminary approval. Why would Saco allow a Nimby group to halt much needed and approved projects?
Drew Preston
Falmouth
To the editor,
I have been in the commercial and residential construction industry for 52 years. I have worked with and for many amazing developers and owners like Loni Graiver for decades. Many towns in Maine approach proposed developments in a pro development, and others in an anti-development manner. The review process of this subject project appears to be the latter.
The Saco Planning Board has a better understanding of the political ramifications of people with torches and pitchforks, and less of an understanding of the meaning of “preliminary approvals.” What changed during the period between prelim and final votes seems to be how much power the Saco Planning Board handed the neighbors who came against the project. Once preliminary approvals were reached by vote of the board, all public hearings should have been unnecessary.
Never in all my years of watching developers jump through planning board hoops, have I witnessed such obviously political and unprecedented review with a reversal of a preliminary approval.
The Town of Saco should do the right thing and honor their preliminary approval vote and ultimately reverse their reversal, then award final approval based on the merits of the developers having met all requirements of the planning board over the last two years of a rather painful process.
Bill Bridges
Owner, Perspective Construction Management
Raymond
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
