A good deal for everyone

The best kinds of developments are the ones that benefit both the developer and the community.

That would be the case in Gorham where the town is looking to swap land with resident Hans Hansen to clear the way for a $4.1 million development.

If the swap goes through as proposed, Hansen would be free to build a potentially lucrative commercial and residential development. At the same time, the town would benefit from some much-needed road improvements as well as gaining land to expand the cemetery in South Gorham.

Hansen has proposed building six homes, three greenhouses and a childcare center on 23 acres he owns near the intersection of South Street and County Road.

Besides bringing businesses into town to help expand the tax base, this development gives the town and Hansen the chance to work together to fix an outdated and potentially dangerous intersection.

The town has asked Hansen to create two center left turn lanes at the intersection. One of the turn lanes would allow westbound traffic on County Road to turn into his development, and the other lane would allow eastbound traffic to turn left onto South Street.

It seems unlikely that Hansen’s proposal will generate enough traffic at an intersection that was already heavily traveled before Hansen’s project to require $200,000 worth of improvements. But Hansen has indicated he is willing to make the improvements in the interest of keeping his project moving forward.

Under the proposed deal, the town would offer to pay some of the estimated $200,000 in improvements to the intersection. In exchange, Hansen would grant the town a right-of-way through his property.

The right-of-way would allow Burnham Road to connect with County Road at the existing traffic signal, eliminating one intersection. The land swap would also provide land to expand the South Gorham cemetery.

While the swap would cost Gorham money for the road improvements, there will be a cost to Hansen as well. According to Hansen, if the land swap goes through as proposed, it would eliminate one of his proposed house lots and devalue another lot.

Still, even with losing one of his house lots and lowering the value of another, Hansen said he realizes the benefits of the proposal. “I’m stepping to the plate,” Hansen said. “It’s a win-win situation for the town of Gorham if we can work a deal.”

It seems like town officials are also willing to deal with Hansen to get this project, which has been delayed several times, underway. “It’s the only way to help the traffic there as I see it,” said Town Councilor Cal Hamblen.

Even with those sentiments, the deal is still not done. The land swap still needs to be approved by the Town Council and the project requires Planning Board approval. If either one of those boards balks, the project could be in jeopardy. “If we don’t agree, it’s dead in the water,” Hansen said recently.

And that would be a shame. Because, in addition to improving the roads and expanding Gorham’s tax base with new businesses, this project is also the key to survival for Hansen’s Farm Market, a Gorham business.

The framework is all in place, now all Gorham and Hansen have to do is work together. Hansen has given every indication that he is willing to deal, here’s hoping that Gorham feels the same way.

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