SACO — The planning board will reconsider the completeness of an application for a proposed CVS development downtown, in response to concerns from residents.
The determination that buildings on or abutting the site are historic properties could affect the proposed development. The planning board is also proposing changes in the B3 downtown zone, where the site of the proposed pharmacy is located. If the application for the CVS is not complete before zoning changes are approved, the changes could also impact the development.
The planning board, at a meeting on Dec. 15, 2009, approved the completeness of the application for the proposed drug store.
The suggested 13,225-square-foot pharmacy, proposed by developer John Grammas, would be located on a 1.7-acre parcel bordering Elm Street, Thornton Avenue and Pleasant Street. Its construction would require the demolition of six current properties, which include the building that housed the former Quizno’s and Maggie Moos restaurants as well as five residential buildings all built in the 1800s.
The city has received concerns from local residents and a local historian who believe the application was incomplete because it does not include a review of historical property on or abutting the site.
Saco zoning ordinance states that proposed activity involving development or soil disturbance on or adjacent to sites listed on or known to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places shall be submitted to the applicant for review to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and the Saco Historical Preservation Commission before action is taken by the permitting authority.
The city’s comprehensive plan does not list any of the properties proposed to be demolished or those abutting them as being on the national registry and a letter from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission stated that it did not have enough information to determine if the buildings proposed to be demolished were eligible for the registry. The commission recommended that a study be done.
Planning Board member Donald Girouard said that there seemed to be anecdotal evidence that buildings in the vicinity of the project may have historical significance, but there was no concrete evidence.
Girouard said that given the significance and the importance of the project, “I think we need to give every consideration” as to whether there are historical properties involved.
Planning Board Chairman Neil Schuster said that given the wealth of information on the subject, he needed time to think it over.
“I’m not sure where I would come out on whether it’s complete or not,” said Planning Board Chairman Neil Schuster.
The city will gather historical data on the area and the issue of reconsideration will go before the planning board on Jan. 19.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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