By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

A public hearing has been scheduled for June 16 at 5 p.m. regarding a 48-unit “age and income” restricted residential housing development at 15 Harrison Road.

Deciding to call for the hearing, the Bridgton Planning Board Tuesday night via virtual meeting heard an overview of the project from Laura Reading of Developers Collaborative (DC), a Portland-based development group, and Michael Tadema-Wielandt of Terradyn Consultants LLC of New Gloucester.

The project, Reading noted at a previous meeting, is on a tight timeline (approvals in place by Sept. 24) in regards to funding, which planners understood and set an early hearing date.

Some of the project elements include:

• The L-shaped building is 2 ½ stories and includes an elevator. It will have clapboards and shingles to keep with the “New England architectural style.” First floor units will be 600 to 700 square feet, while top floor space will be 700 to 800 square feet. Based on income guidelines, rent would be about $786, including heat and hot water.

• There are two community rooms, one leads to an open outdoor patio and gardening beds.

• The project would utilize two pieces of property, accessed from Harrison Road. At one time, both pieces had residential homes there. One piece (about two acres in the Downtown Village Business District) will serve as the driveway leading to the housing development. It will include four to five decorative street lamps (light intensity can be controlled) and a sidewalk will be constructed to allow residents a safe passage to Harrison Road. Developers have had conversations with Bridgton Fire Chief Tom Harriman regarding width, including space in the parking lot area to adequately provide access to a ladder truck.

In regards to the parking lot, there will be 53 spaces, five accessible close to the building. If more handicap accessible spaces are needed (thus requiring more space), the parking slots drop from 53 to 47.

Through experiences at other facilities, developers say 60 to 80% of residents have vehicles, so the number of slots should be adequate for residents and visitors.

The second piece (in the Rural Neighborhood District) totals about five acres. Tadema-Wielandt pointed out two sizeable wetlands on this piece. The building will be constructed to the western side.

• A dumpster for solid waste and recyclables will be enclosed and not visible from Harrison Road.

• The project will utilize town water and sewer (in the near future) on Crockett Lane. Since the development will include a sprinkler system for fire protection, the developer will upgrade the water line on Crockett Lane. A walking path will connect the development to Crockett Lane.

Board Chairwoman Deb Brusini invited planners to offer “advice” regarding questions they could see being asked during the hearing, but asked them to refrain from discussing “evidence,” which will be addressed at the June 16 meeting. “Advice” from planners included having information regarding how people can apply; and will there be an “unloading” area close the building for residents to ease access after a day of shopping.

In other business Tuesday night:

• Final approval was given to BD Solar North Bridgton LLC (Dirigo Solar of Portland) to turn an old apple orchard on Chadbourne Hill Road into a solar array. The property will house 15,120 solar panels with a gravel access road up the middle of the 21.5-acre site.

The property is currently owned by Ricker Hill Orchards of Turner. The existing orchard will be converted to a meadow and land cover will be maintained to standards of Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s meadow buffers. The area will be mowed twice a year, and motorized vehicle traffic there will be limited to panel maintenance.

The project consists of a 4.99-megawatt solar array to generate power that will be sold under a purchase agreement with Central Maine Power.

Planner Dee Miller raised a concern at a previous review meeting regarding the town having “protection” (in the form of a bond) that the company would return the site to its natural state if the day arrived that the solar panels were no longer useful. Language exists in the lease between Dirigo and Ricker Hill regarding such matters.

Senior Project Manager Sean Thies of CES Inc. (Engineers, Environmental Scientists, Surveyors) said DEP requires various reporting every five years, and the company would gladly pass on the same information to the town.

Planner Paul Tworog felt requiring two bonds would be “overkill” saying the town is at a minimal risk, while Planner Greg Watkins was satisfied with the single bond between DEP and the solar firm.

Miller, however, emphasized her belief in “local control as much as possible.”

“The town needs to be actively involved,” she said. “I have faith in the DEP, but this is Bridgton property we’re talking about. We have a planning board. We have an ordinance directed by the board. I believe in local control, and we want the town to be able to initiate activity if necessary.”

Under the site plan’s financial guarantee, planners decided to require the single bond between DEP and the firm. The final stamp of approval will be made at the first Planning Board meeting in July.

• Because four abutters were not notified, planners ruled a proposal by Terry Swett to create an “events area” at his Brown Mill Farm incomplete.

“It was my own negligence,” Swett told planners. “I don’t do this very often.”

Swett planned to meet with Code Officer Brenda Day this week to be sure all pertinent parties are notified by today (Thursday) so planners could put the proposal on their next agenda.

Discussion included: parking (it will be in a field area); Fire Chief Tom Harriman put capacity at 74; an electric sound system will be used (“the acoustics are wonderful in there,” Swett said); guests will use a bathroom in the home (it has a 1,500 gallon septic tank), while events with bigger crowds will access a porta-potty; ballisters will be needed on an inside stairway.

“It’s a very optimistic plan,” Miller said.

“We like optimism,” Swett responded.

• Planners Ken Gibbs and Dee Miller, working with Community Development Director Linda LaCroix, have developed an information package to explain the town referendum questions that will appear on the July 14 ballot.

The guide explains what a “yes” and “no” vote means. LaCroix plans create a power-point and post it on the town’s website.

Planner Paul Tworog suggested a few changes be made so that “phrasing be consistent.” LaCroix said the final draft will be reviewed by the town’s attorney.