The Scarborough Planning Board had positive words for the 288-unit Dunstan Crossing proposal during its initial review Monday night.
“I’ve always been a fan of using this part of Dunstan as you have proposed over the years,” said Planning Board Chairman Mike Wood.
John and Elliott Chamberlain, owners of ALC Development, have proposed 288 housing units on 142 acres bounded by Broadturn Road, the Maine Turnpike and Queens Drive, just off Route 1. Of that land, 120 acres are considered buildable.
This is the second time the Chamberlains have sought Planning Board permission for the project.
In 2003 they had received preliminary approval for a 397-unit project, which was approved by the Town Council under a contract zone. However, voters overturned the contract zone during a resident-initiated referendum vote.
The Chamberlains then sued the town and in February a judge declared that the town’s zoning of their property was inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The town responded by developing the Dunstan Village Residential District, which changes the zone from RF to R2, allowing two homes per acre.
The Dunstan District also allows additional density for developers who preserve open space and build affordable housing. In this case, those bonuses allow the construction of an additional 48 units.
“What you see before you tonight is a plan that follows the new zone’s guidelines,” Elliott Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain said the new plan is very similar to the one previously approved, but smaller. He said many of the issues surrounding the project have already been studied.
The project entails construction of single-family homes, town houses, duplexes and apartment buildings throughout the area. Some of the units will be designated for affordable housing and senior housing.
Parking will be included behind most of the single-family homes and duplexes. Owners will access their garages through an alley behind the homes. Residents will park in front of many of the duplexes and the larger-lot single-family homes.
There will be a trail network running throughout the entire parcel. The construction is slated to take place in four stages.
The first phase of construction will include the construction of a neighborhood of town houses, duplexes and single-family homes. The developers also will construct a road that will run from Broadturn Road to Route 1.
The road will allow construction vehicles to enter from Route 1 and residents to enter from Broadturn Road. It is intended to reduce the amount of construction traffic within the development. A gravel pit on the site will be used as a staging area.
Chamberlain expects the second phase, including more single-family homes and duplexes, will occur just to the west of the initial construction, and will form a part of the existing neighborhood.
The third phase will take place a little farther into the parcel and will include a similar mix of buildings. There will be a wooded space separating the two neighborhoods. The final phase will entail the construction of senior housing, a community center and an undetermined number of apartment buildings that will hold a total of 16 units.
“It’s a wonderful plan,” Chamberlain said. “There’s more open space. I think there’s as much or more variety as before.”
Chamberlain said he is not sure of the exact layout of the open space within the neighborhoods and whether it will be wooded or fields or some sort of a combination.
As with the original plan, Chamberlain envisions there will be several types of owner associations running the development. There will be a single authority for the entire area and other associations for the condominium owners, single-family homeowners and town house owners.
Chamberlain said he hopes not to make many changes to the plan, but did say if the market does not act as predicted there may be some changes to the plan. In addition, the total number of units allowed under the Dunstan Village Residential zone is based on the assumption there are 120 buildable acres. If there is more or less the total units could be adjusted accordingly, he said.
Review begins for Dunstan Crossing
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