KENNEBUNK – On August 31, Audrey and Richard Williamson, Ross Road residents, stood before the Kennebunk Zoning Board of Appeals to refute findings made by Kennebunk’s Site Plan Review Board on the major commercial development proposed for 70-72 Portland Road (Ross Road/Route 1 intersection).

The Williamson’s initial ZBA appearance on August 20 was moved to August 31 so they could present the SPRB’s findings of fact document after their appeal was deemed otherwise punctual and complete.

The findings of fact summary enumerates project approval criteria in accordance with Article 11/Section 8 of Kennebunk’s zoning ordinances.

Audrey Williamson began her appeal by stating the SPRB had already completed their findings of fact before the five-hour public hearing had ended. “The findings of fact were presented already printed, already drafted. Nothing from the public hearing was added or amended into those findings of fact. They were predetermined. That’s not permitted in the state of Maine,” she said.

Next, she stated that errors were made by the SPRB in their findings of fact. Williamson specifically addressed five criteria, which pertained to buffers, surface drainage, access and egress from public and private streets, traffic capacity and safe pedestrian circulation. She said she believed those criteria were not met and could therefore not be approved.

Attorney Gregory Orso spoke on behalf of the developers. Through the course of the meeting, he refuted the Williamsons’ claims, summarizing, “The reality is you (the board) have not received one piece of concrete evidence, other than peoples’ opinions, that something hasn’t been met.”

After much deliberation, a single vote was held, regarding criterion #2, which pertained to maintaining and creating effective buffers between the project and residential properties. That decision was 3-1 against the Williamsons, with Stephen Sayers, Wayne Berry and Mike Kellis agreeing that the Williamsons had failed to prove the criterion had not been met. Member Brenda Robinson dissented.

At nearly three hours, the board agreed to continue reviewing the four remaining criteria and scheduled the next meeting for September 9 at 6:30 p.m. on the 3rd floor of town hall.

All ZBA meetings are broadcast live on cable TV channel 1302 and at https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/1109/Watch-Televised-Board-Meetings.