Three months after filing suit against the town regarding his Haigis Parkway property, Linwood Higgins is now proposing to subdivide the land into 13 lots.
Higgins said he is marketing the property, but at this point does not have a buyer nor has anyone approached him about purchasing it.
But interest may be developed if the land is subdivided, Higgins said. He said the process may take a year to complete and he would like to have lots ready to sell in case a buyer comes forward.
He is proposing to divide the property into four “pods” ranging from 6.42 acres to 57.66 acres. The pods in turn will be divided into lots ranging from 1.5 acres to seven acres, with most lots in the two- to three-acre range, according to documents submitted to the Planning Department.
The lots will be used for offices and will include one-, two- or three-story buildings ranging in size from 6,300 square feet to 37,600 square feet. The project will begin with the construction of a 34,000-square-foot two-story office building.
Both Higgins and Scarborough Downs are suing the town for assessments levied against them for utility improvements brought to the area.
The town spent $10 million to bring water and sewer to the parkway and, town officials believe, made the area better suited and more desirable for future development.
To pay for the project the town created a TIF district and also assessed the 24 Haigis Parkway property owners $5 million, which will provide the town with some cash flow until the TIF begins generating revenue.
Higgins, through his two companies Three Diamond Reality and Haigis Parkway LLC, owns 92 acres and is the largest landowner on the parkway. His assessment is $1.4 million, the most of any property owner.
However, Higgins feels the assessment was not fair and is now suing the town. Town officials counter there is nothing wrong with the assessment and it was done equitably to all landowners.
With the assessment due date coming up shortly, Higgins said many landowners would be better served selling their land.
“Everyone is looking to sell as quickly as they can,” he said.
The proposed subdivision was slated to be discussed by the Planning Board at its Aug. 8, meeting, but was tabled at Higgins’s request.
The Planning Board held a public hearing on the proposed performance standards for hospice facilities in residential districts.
The town’s ordinances currently do not allow the construction of hospices. But the Town Council is considering an amendment to the zoning ordinances that would establish performance standards and allow for the construction of hospice facilities with the approval of the planning board and board of appeals.
The change is in response to a proposal from Hospice of Southern Maine to build a 16-bed hospice facility on Hunnewell Road.
Some neighbors have expressed concern about the proposal, but no public comment was given during the Planning Board’s meeting.
The board also accepted an amendment to Mike Payeur’s Bonneygrove subdivision off Payne Road to remove the age restriction on the property.
Payeur wanted to remove the restriction in order to market the subdivision to a wider range of people. Additionally, Payeur asked for permission to construct two-story buildings on some of the smaller lots.
Because of the change, Payeur would have to pay an additional $6,000 for the Payne Road impact fee.
The board unanimously accepted the changes.
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