KENNEBUNK – A major commercial center that could house fast food restaurants, a bank, coffee shop, and other retail establishments is proposed for the heavily traveled corner of Ross Road and Portland Road (Route 1).
The development proposed by the Charles River Realty Group of Norwood, Mass. would be built in two phases. The first would feature seven commercial units and 75 parking spaces, and have entrances on both Ross Road and Portland Road. The second phase would include an additional building, but no tenants have been secured for that space and construction would be separate from the initial seven-unit building.
The Site Plan Review Board reviewed the proposal at its March 19 meeting, and both the board and attendees raised concerns about traffic flow and congestion.
“Traffic, traffic, traffic, traffic. It’s only going to get worse,” stated Farish Hemeon, a resident who lives in the Poets Glen condominium complex off Ross Road.
According to Henry Hess, an architect with Sebago Technics in South Portland that helped design the proposed development, the second phase would involve additional development at the rear of the property, though no tenants have been secured at this time for that additional building. Hess said, “Phase 2 will happen; they’d love to do something back there.” Part of the first phase would include clearing trees and grading the area, even though no building is currently planned.
Chris Osterrieder, Kennebunk’s director of community development and town engineer, questioned the rationale of developing the land at this time, saying grading is not justified and the natural landscape should be preserved until needed. If a tenant is confirmed, an entirely new site plan would be required.
Three of the retail units will have drive-thru windows. Chris MacClinchy, chair of the Planning Board, expressed reservations about a drive-thru being located at the Ross Road/Portland Road intersection. “I think that’s pretty problematic having the Suite 7 (drive-thru) as designed in that location at this point in time.” He added that town design standards, which he helped write, aimed to have “less auto-dependent development on Route 1.” He felt adding more drive-thrus (originally two and now three) is “counter-intuitive.”
The proposed development will have two entrances. The applicant intends to use the current Portland Road curb cut and has proposed a new entrance on Ross Road, relocated from an existing cut. The Maine Department of Transportation would require a Traffic Movement Permit (TMP) for this proposal and that is in process. Ross Road, which is largely residential, receives substantial use as a shortcut between the Maine Turnpike, Route 1 and Kennebunkport.
In an unusual turn, public comments were allowed at the Site Plan Review Board meeting at this phase of the proposal. Pam Levere, resident of The Farragut at Kennebunk, was not opposed to the development but stated she was very concerned about cars turning from Ross Road south onto Portland Road, then needing to immediately turn left into the Farragut entrance. Those cars would cross northbound Portland Road traffic, some of which would need to take left turns onto Ross Road. Additionally, southbound Portland Road cars would also have to use the travel lane to enter the development. “(Cars) would all be bottlenecked at Ross Road and in the summer, it would be disastrous,” Levere said. The Farragut at Kennebunk, located east of the proposed development, is a condominium community with 70 homes.
Janice Vance, a Planning Board member who has seen two versions of the plan so far, said, “It’s a difficult site. The safety is number one. The traffic is number one.” She also raised the issue of the brick building currently on the property. “There is a home in there that’s eligible for the Federal Register of Historic Places and (the developers) plan to tear it down.”
Hess acknowledged the work ahead. “I’m certainly hearing the concerns about the traffic being top of mind – hearing those loud and clear,” he said. “There will certainly be a volume of data to support decisions made going forward.” “(Charles River Realty Group) certainly takes the safety of the people coming to this property and who travel Route 1 and Ross Road seriously.”
The landowner is Loon Properties of Windham, New Hampshire. The 9.65 acre lot at 70 and 72 Portland Road is primarily upland woods with wetlands and a vernal pool. It was formerly the site of JJ Keating Auctioneers and is the seasonal home of The Ocean Roll seafood truck.
The applicant is expected to return to the Site Plan Review Board on May 21. The Board meets 7:00 p.m. on the 3rd floor of Kennebunk Town Hall. The public is welcome to attend.
