I attended the Aug. 11 Portland Planning Board meeting on the Level III site plan and subdivision review of the Sisters of Mercy Mother House redevelopment proposal.

I wanted to voice my concerns on the unknown effects of approved projects underway within a half-mile of the Mother House. The city planners responded to my concerns by saying that the city has an urgent need for affordable housing and all of the possible issues have been addressed in a master plan.

Deering Pavilion has started construction of 55 units so very close to the Mother House, and construction of 30 efficiency units on Bishop Street will begin soon. The city planners and developers are sure there will be no unforeseen issues with the projects and the traffic effect on Stevens Avenue will be minimal.

The University of New England recently completed its dental school. The project on paper includes plenty of off-site parking nearby.

But the parking lots are virtually empty, as well as the shuttle bus to take the students from Bishop Street to UNE. Students park on both sides of Stevens Avenue, creating a dangerous situation for the nearby day care and St. Bridget’s School.

How can the city planners and developers know for sure that the already approved plans so close to Deering Center, day care facilities and schools will have no effect on the neighborhood?

City planners should wait until the already approved projects’ actual impact on the neighborhood is known versus projected.

City planners should not feel pressure from developers to make expedited decisions in such a unique neighborhood.

Daphne Millay

Portland

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