OXFORD — A proposed redevelopment of the Robinson Woolen Mill into a senior apartment complex has cleared ordinance hurdles, but two King Street residents have requested a public hearing to make sure their concerns are heard.

The Caleb Group, a Massachusetts-based affordable housing developer, purchased the Robinson Woolen in Mill last fall, with the intent to build a senior apartment complex with 77 one- and two-bedroom units.

The developer owns 30 housing properties in New England. Fifteen are located in Maine: eight in York County, five in Bangor, one in Portland and one in Lewiston.

The company’s acquisitions director, Suzanne Decavèle, unveiled the proposed development during an Oxford Select Board meeting back in November and came before the Oxford Planning Board Jan. 11 to present its application.

Due to the town ordinance limiting multi-unit properties to 50 units, the board denied the application. The following month, The Caleb Group appeared before Oxford’s board of appeals, which granted a variance that will allow the project to provide 80 units.

Earlier this month, The Caleb Group, represented by Steve Bushey of Gorrill Palmer Consulting Engineers of South Portland, attended another planning board meeting in anticipation of the variance being finalized and to answer questions on next steps.

Oxford residents June Mosher and Sharon Jackson attended the planning board’s Feb. 22 meeting to air their concerns and request a public hearing be held before the housing project proceeds.

Jackson said she does not support the project as it has been presented.

“It’s right on the corner, right in the middle of the village,” she said. “There is a tremendous amount of traffic, and lots of kids walking along that road. Ninety parking places for a complex with up to 80 units, in my opinion, is unacceptable.

“No. 1, if a couple lives in a unit, they need two parking spots. When The Caleb Group came to the board of selectmen, they said not everyone will have a vehicle. But I don’t want King Street to become a parking space with cars on both sides of the street.

“There would be at least 80 additional people living in that small village area. It will impact the number of people going to the beach, the number of people out walking in the community. It’s too much congestion.”

Mosher also requested a public hearing.

Decavèle, who attended the meeting virtually, said that for the project to be financially feasible, it will need to include more than 70 units.

Both Mosher and Jackson said variances are granted in situations involving hardship, which they feel The Caleb Group does not qualify for.

“When The Caleb Group decided to purchase the property, they knew zoning allowed for 50 units,” Mosher said. “They took that gamble. They are also requesting a very large TIF that I don’t know will get approved.

“I’m not against this project. I’d love to see this project. I am against the size of the project.”

The planning board agreed to schedule a public hearing and scheduled it for March 13 at 6 p.m.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Parents and grandmother charged in the death of Bangor 10-year-old

Next »

Maine family that planned world’s tallest flagpole fined $250,000 for cabins