Driving down Stroudwater Street past Lew Randall’s cows with the traffic on Westbrook Arterial visible in the distance, it’s hard to believe the little pocket of farmland between Portland and Westbrook has remained undeveloped as long as it has.

A short distance from two turnpike exits, the land would seemingly be under unbearable commercial pressure, regardless of how much neighbors have fought to preserve the rural character of the area.

However, it’s also hard to imagine a development of the size and scope that was proposed this week going in next door to the Randall farm. Jason Snyder, whose family owns 65 acres off Stroudwater Street, presented to the city his plan for 1.65 million square feet of commercial space, which would include department stores, skating rinks, restaurants, a farmer’s market and an open-air concert venue.

The proposal is a good sign for Westbrook and southern Maine. Just the fact that such a high-profile development team believes a project of this magnitude could be viable here bodes well for the local economy. The proposal also signals what many have believed for years – Stroudwater’s days as a quiet country road connecting Portland to Westbrook, albeit one with about 10,000 commuters a day, are numbered.

The project would easily be the largest retail development in the state. By comparison, the Maine Mall is just a little more than 1 million square feet – not that it’s a comparison Snyder wants to make. He made a point this week of pitching his project as something much more than a mall. It would be a destination for those seeking entertainment and recreation, as well as merchandise.

“It’s Disneyworld,” said John Rumery, a Stroudwater Street resident. “It’s way too big for this area.”

Rumery’s reaction is understandable. His home is just across the street from the Snyder property and next door to the Randall farm. Few people would want to look out their window and see a development the size of the one being proposed, particularly when it’s replacing a view as bucolic as the one Rumery has now.

His comment, however, also addressed a skepticism expressed repeatedly this week by those who had the opportunity to view the plans: Does a project of this size make sense here?

The accomplishments of those on the development team were at once impressive and daunting – the World Trade Center’s Windows on the World, Boston’s Fanueil Hall, Chicago’s Navy Pier and Washington D.C.’s Union Station. Westbrook’s Stroudwater Place seems to be the one that doesn’t belong.

Despite that, Snyder was confident this week in his plan, fulfilling the vision his father, Arthur Snyder, had 50 years ago when he purchased the property. Jason Snyder says his father, who is known for developing properties in downtown Portland, knew location in Westbrook would eventually be prime for development.

It’s too early to know whether a project of this magnitude make sense there, but one thing is clear: Arthur Snyder did indeed buy a valuable piece property. His foresight, matched with the interest today from this experienced team of developers, make this proposal one that’s worth indulging, no matter how out of scale it may seem at first.

Brendan Moran, editor