The Scarborough Planning Board has given final approval to the new Nonesuch River Brewing project, which will take the place of a rundown single-family home near the intersection of Mussey and Gorham roads.
The brew pub is the brainchild of locals Tim Boardman, Michael Schuler and Jeff Gambardella, who plan to build a 5,000-square-foot structure, designed to look like a traditional New England barn, that will include a brewery and a 142-seat restaurant.
At a meeting Monday, members of the Planning Board called the project a great addition to one of the gateways into Scarborough, and said they are pleased that the three owners are taking advantage of a relatively new zoning change that calls for mixed uses in that area of town.
Prior to the vote, several residents spoke up in favor of the brewery, including Chuck Bradish, who said he lives “just down the street” and can’t wait for the pub to open.
He and his wife often find themselves eating out, Bradish said, and since the selection is somewhat limited in Scarborough, they usually end up dining in other towns. The proposed brew pub, with its “relaxing, family-friendly environment,” would be exactly the type of place he would choose to go.
Tom Simonds, another neighbor to the project, agreed.
“My family and I are very excited about this,” particularly because the brew pub will be locally owned. He called the brewery “a very good fit” for that end of Scarborough.
Steve Casio, another resident, called the brewery “a great concept done the right way,” and said there is a groundswell of local support for the project. William Cook said the brewery would provide “a great visual entrance to town and up the quality of the neighborhood.”
Cook also said that with the craft brewing industry “exploding right now,” a new brewery is one way to put Scarborough on the map and make it a destination for those who seek out local, handcrafted beer.
When it came time for the Planning Board to comment, member Michael Wood said he liked the architecture and agreed that the project would be “a great addition to this area of town.”
Board member Susan Auglis said the brewery was bound to be successful if “you make good beer and good food,” and although she questioned whether the owners have provided enough parking, she added, “I’m really excited you’re coming.”
Cory Fellows, chairman of the Planning Board, also applauded the project and said, “This will be a nice addition and a great gateway on that side of town.”
He also thanked the owners for their willingness to “address the concerns of staff, board members and neighbors.”
In particular, some neighbors were concerned about light and noise and the additional traffic the project might bring.
Lee Allen, the project consultant from Northeast Civil Solutions, told the board Monday that new fencing and 7-foot-tall trees would be used to buffer the project from nearby residences and that a left-hand turn lane will be added to Gorham Road to ease the flow of traffic.
Allen said Tuesday the owners hope to begin the project “as soon as possible.” He said the work could take up to eight months to complete.
Also on Monday, the board heard a presentation from local developer Kerry Anderson, who discussed his plans for a new, eight-building apartment complex in his Eastern Village Development.
Anderson was in front of the board for a sketch plan review, a process by which an applicant can get input from board members before proceeding to the formal site plan stage.
Overall, the Planning Board members supported Anderson’s proposal, although Wood and second alternate Robyn Saunders had questions about green space and low-impact development methods.
Anderson said he’s held two meetings with area residents and has been working on the apartment complex plan, on and off, for a little more than a year to get it just right.
The architecture would match that of the other homes in the Eastern Village, and Anderson said the project would not be “your typical apartments. They’ll be appealing and not inexpensive to build.”
Anderson said he’s reacting to market demand for small rental units, with many people these days choosing to rent instead of dealing with the headaches of home ownership. He said those represented by this demographic shift want to live in more densely developed areas and be free of home maintenance responsibilities.
The eight apartment buildings would vary between two and three stories and most would have eight units of 750 square feet or less, Anderson said. He also said the complex would be pet friendly and include a common green space.
He’s also planning on offering on-street parking, power stations for electric vehicles, a common fire pit and a community center-type space with a lounge and free Wi-Fi. Other amenities would include a dog-washing station and safe package delivery and storage.
But by far the biggest amenity, Anderson said, is the adjacent Eastern Trail, a mostly off-road trail that runs from Kittery to Bug Light in South Portland, which is popular with bikers, walkers and bird watchers.
In evaluating the project, board member Nick McGee said, “I like the design elements.”
And first alternate Roger Beeley said, “Everything looks fine to me. You’ve done a wonderful job with the neighborhood so far.”
He added, “I think the architecture looks terrific and it will look great from Black Point Road.”
Fellows said he was “definitely on board. It’s great to see this vision coming together.”
Anderson first received approval for the Eastern Village in 2007 and has mostly built single-family homes and duplexes so far.
At the end of his presentation Monday, Anderson said he plans to be back for site plan approval and to get building “as soon as possible.”
The new Nonesuch River Brewing project received approval from the Scarborough Planning Board Monday.
Local developer Kerry Anderson is eager to get started building this new apartment complex at his Eastern Village development.
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