KENNEBUNKPORT – The Kennebunkport Planning Board got a look at the plan to develop the historic 35-acre Blueberry Hill Farm on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The initial plan, called a sketch plan, would keep the historic buildings together on their own lot and create 10 new house lots of 1 to 1.5 acres each. About 14 acres on the east side of the property, including existing walking trails, would be preserved as common land for the subdivision’s homeowners. Board Chair Ed Francis called the plan “manageable.”
The property was bought Aug. 31 by 63 North St LLC, a limited liability company registered with the state of Maine on Aug. 11. Geoff Bowley is also listed as an owner on the application to the town.
The property sits in two zoning districts. A 23-acre section along North Street is in the Village Residential zone, where the existing buildings and new homes would go. The rear 12 acres, which include the walking trails, are in the Free Enterprise zone. The line between the two follows an existing Central Maine Power easement.
The development would connect to the town public water system, but each home would have its own private septic system. Michael Tadema-Wieland of Terradyn Consultants LLC said soil testing shows the land can support private systems.
However, current town guidance would require the developer to extend and hook up to own sewer because the line is located only 1,000 feet away on North Street, Tadema-Wieland said the applicant will ask for a waiver of that requirement due to the high cost of extending the sewer line. He said that should the builder be required to extend the sewer line, the plan would likely need to change to include more house lots.
Francis asked whether the town’s Comprehensive Plan offers guidance on the benefits of extending the sewer line. The board asked town staff to check with the public works department for more information on this requirement.
Several board members noted that the property is next to the town-owned Village Parcel and asked whether any joint development would be possible.
The board scheduled a site walk for 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the 63 North Street property. Site walks are open to the public but are considered planning board meetings, not public meetings, so the board will not take public comment.
Blueberry Hill Farm is a historic 35-acre estate, built around 1790 by Stephen Perkins. The existing property features a farmhouse from that era, high-bush blueberry bushes, an apple orchard, a maple sugaring grove, a pool and a Cape-style caretaker’s cottage.
