The Saco Planning Board convened on August 19, 2025, to review multiple applications including a new elementary and primary school on Beth Johnson Way, a conditional use for a vehicle inspection station, a substation expansion at 109 Main Street, a large residential subdivision, and several other items. The board approved several key proposals and continued others.
All right, good evening, everyone. Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the planning board and valued community representatives. As chair, it is my privilege to convene this gathering dedicated to the thoughtful planning and development of our community. Today we come together with a shared commitment to shaping the future in our city. That manners excuse me, in us in our city, in a manner that reflects our values, respects our heritage, and fulfills the needs of our residents both now and in the future. Our agenda tonight contains important matters, each requiring our careful consideration, expertise, and collaboration. As we engage in our deliberations, let us remember the profound impact these decisions have on the lives of all. Keeping in mind we're residents like you. It is our duty to maintain transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in our proceedings, ensuring that the voices of all are heard and respected. Together, we must embrace the responsibility entrusted to us by our community, working diligently and thoughtfully to chart a course that phosphors growth, prosperity, and harmony. With that, I would like to call this meeting of the Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 Socco Planning Board to order. I look forward to the productive discussions and meaningful outcomes that lie ahead. And to my left, our vice chair, Joyce Lurie Clark, along with planning board members Jeff Brucho, Camilla White, and Catherine Pellini. Along with my right here, Jim Moyer. Our staff members this evening with us are our assistant city planner, Sandon Chisholm, our city planner Emily Cole Prescott, and our planning compliance manager, Lisa Harmon. And our Ward 5 counselor Phil Hatch as well. With that, we will move to our first item on the agenda, which is review of our prior meeting minutes. And we have a note here that our August digital copies that you can get online as well. Digital copies that you can get online as well. With that, we'll move to our next item, which is our public comment period. This is an opportunity for any residents or members of the public to come before the board and discuss any planning matters. We'd like to ask that any project specific matters be held to those application review periods. And with that, if anyone would like to speak this evening, please come to the podium and state your name and address for the record, and we will collect comments and address them appropriately. We will move to our next item on the agenda this evening, item six. This is our applications for review and public hearings this evening. Our first item is 6A, and this is 12 and 14 Beth Johnson Way. This is map 60 lots 15 through 18-1, and map 60 lot 20. And this is a site plan review for a new elementary and primary school with associated site improvements. This is presented by the Socco School Department. And we have an application of completeness review this evening. And this project is located within the Portland Road Zoning District. Board members, any conflicts or disclosures on this item before we begin. All right, and with that, anything to add, Emily. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We've been reviewing this application. Um city staff, we provided consolidated comments back to the Sacco school team. Um it's an exciting project for the city of Sacco as there's been uh a lot of public input already on the site location as well as on the approval of the referendum question. Um the school location will be at Millbrook and uh Portland Roads uh and the Portland Road Zoning District. It'll be consolidated schools as indicated on here. We have reviewed the application checklist. We provided that to you. Um there are easements that are being worked out between SOCO schools and the city of Sacco. Off-site improvements and the traffic movement permit. In this case, the traffic movement permit has already been issued by the state DOT. Just a friendly reminder, we process a tree clearing application back in February, and the property has been cleared. The future expansion areas. There are some expansion areas on the plan you might want to ask some questions about just for future programming. Required permitting going forward. The site location of development review is a cumulative scheme of development, so they will be considered as part of the Millbrook Business Park cumulative scheme.