WESTBROOK – A large parcel of land between Stroudwater Street and Westbrook Arterial could be developed if the Westbrook Planning Board and City Council approve a rezoning and comprehensive plan amendment for the property.
J.B. Brown & Sons, a Portland-based developer, is looking to purchase a roughly 60-acre parcel, once the site of an ambitious development plan that was subsequently abandoned following foreclosure.
Vincent Veroneau, president and CEO of J.B. Brown & Sons, presented his company’s plans to the Planning Board on Tuesday to rezone the property into a roughly 45-acre zone for potential commercial development, and a 15-acre zone for possible residential development.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Planning Board voted unanimously to move the item to a public hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 7, after which the board will make a recommendation to the City Council on whether to approve the rezoning.
The land includes the site of a former development contract zone known as “Stroudwater Place,” which was first proposed by original landowner Jason Snyder in 2008. However, due to foreclosure, the land was sold back to mortgage lender Kimco Capital.
According to Veroneau, J.B. Brown & Sons has a binding purchase and sale agreement with Kimco Capital that hinges on the land being rezoned.
“What we’re requesting is a change in the comprehensive plan to allow for the contract zone to be extinguished and replaced with two zones on the property,” he said. “With the zone change, the prospects of the property being developed are greatly enhanced.”
The commercial zone, named “Gateway Commercial District,” is located across from Westbrook Arterial, while the residential zone, simply called “Residential Growth Area 2,” runs along Stroudwater Street.
Planning Board Chairman Ed Reidman said that in his experience with the property, there have been three separate zoning changes made, but that the zoning plan in place prior to the current contract zone is similar to what Veroneau is seeking.
Veroneau said that the current contract zone, put in place during Snyder’s development plan, doesn’t work in today’s market.
“The zoning may have made sense in 2008, but current economic conditions really don’t allow for that type of development,” he said Tuesday.
In 2008, the much-touted Stroudwater Place proposal called for a 1.6 million square-foot, 60-acre project, with retail stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, as well as restaurants, a skating rink, and more.
On Tuesday, concerns raised by board members about impact from traffic flow, and entrances and exits, mirrored the concerns of residents raised during the original Stroudwater Place discussions.
Veroneau said that while his company doesn’t have specific plans yet, he doesn’t see an “interaction” between the commercial zone and residential zone and that there would most likely be a solid buffer area. He added that the residential zone could possibly accommodate between 15 and 18 housing lots.
J.B. Brown & Sons owns two properties in Westbrook, commercial office space on Saunders Way and Scott Drive. Veroneau said Tuesday that the company recently sold property on County Road, which has led to Husson University using the site.
“It’s that sale and those proceeds that we plan to use to develop this property in the future,” he said.
Land between Stroudwater Street and Westbrook Arterial for which J.B. Brown & Sons is seeking zoning changes necessary for a development project.Send questions/comments to the editors.
