Saco Planning Board Meeting - December 9, 2025
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Saco Planning Board Meeting - December 9, 2025
The Saco Planning Board met on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The board reviewed a sketch plan for a gas station, approved several applications, continued others, heard public comments regarding zoning compliance, and adopted the 2026 meeting calendar. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The board approved minutes for four documents, including site walk notes for 42 Fairwell Street and meeting minutes for 321 Lincoln Street, with an amendment to clarify that a fence is proposed around the quarry as shown and that Parks and Rec correspondence indicated willingness to accept open space but not in lieu of recreational impact fees. Motion passed 4-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kelly Archer (185 Bradley Street): Raised concerns about zoning compliance violations at the Ecology School (TES), alleging an illegal expansion of a contract zone and misuse of a conservation parcel. She stated she would submit a 12.3 letter to MDOT Commissioner Dowdy to rescind a BPI agreement with the city. She questioned whether the planning board can hear a deferment extension when the applicant is allegedly violating zoning ordinances.
- Inga Brown (161 Simpson Road): Discussed the condition #9 of the Ecology School's approval, noting that quarterly traffic monitoring was required and that the school allegedly tripped a traffic warrant without amending its programming. She claimed the applicant misrepresented facts at the November 4 meeting and that the intercreditor agreement was denied by city council. She provided a compliance matrix and filed a zoning complaint. She argued that the process marginalizes public input and that the board lacked historical documents.
Discussion Items
- Workshop: 952 Portland Road – Gas Station Sketch Plan: Drew Olehowski of Haley Board presented on behalf of Route 1 Gas, LLC for a new gas station (2,200 sq ft building, four pumps, eight fueling stations) on a 30,000 sq ft lot. The site currently has three curb cuts; they propose closing one on Route 1. Board members raised concerns about left-turn movements onto Route 1, turning movements for fuel delivery trucks and dumpster service, snow storage, buffering to residential neighbors, and the structural design of the canopy (initially wood, to be engineered). The board offered suggestions but took no vote.
- 800 Portland Road – Final Subdivision Approval: Application for 46 dwelling units (23 duplexes) and a 3,300 sq ft commercial building. Public hearing opened and closed with no public comment. Board member Jeff Brueschot opposed, citing incompatibility with the adjacent industrial park. Findings of fact were amended to state conformity with local ordinances; motion passed 3-1 (Brueschot dissenting). Conditions of approval adopted 4-0. Final subdivision approval granted 3-1 (Brueschot dissenting).
- 37 Woodman Avenue – Conditional Use for Family Daycare: Public hearing reopened and closed. Applicant Alicia Cissio requested a name correction and an extension for septic system design. Board discussed deed restrictions; member Jeff Brueschot expressed concern about enforceability of deed restrictions imposed by the planning board. Conditions of approval were amended to include operating hours (Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–5:00 PM, one evening per month until 9:00 PM) and a statement that approval is non-transferable. Findings of fact, conditions of approval, and final approval all passed 4-0.
- 63 Watson Mill Road – Preliminary Subdivision for Road Extension: Proposal to extend Memory Lane by 116 feet to create one additional lot. Public hearing opened and closed. Board requested staff prepare draft findings of fact and conditions of approval for the January 6, 2026 meeting, and asked that driveway locations be reviewed by public works. Continued to January 6, 2026 (4-0).
- 352 North Street – Site Plan Amendment for Change of Ownership: Owner North Street Holdings LLC seeks to change the applicant name from Northeast Hospitality LLC. Board discussed financial capacity and condominium documents. Members requested additional information on financial capacity (e.g., a letter of credit) and clarity on how conditions of approval apply to both entities. Board declined to deem the application complete and instead continued the review to January 6, 2026, scheduling a public hearing then (4-0).
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved (4-0).
- 800 Portland Road – Final subdivision approved (3-1).
- 37 Woodman Avenue – Conditional use approval granted (4-0).
- 63 Watson Mill Road – Continued to January 6, 2026 with staff to prepare draft findings.
- 352 North Street – Continued to January 6, 2026; public hearing scheduled; additional documentation requested.
- 2026 Calendar – Adopted (4-0). (Includes three meetings in January: 6th, 13th, and 20th.)
- General Correspondence: Staff reported that two applications were withdrawn (seasonal floating dock and Remek Drive sidewalk). A fraud scam targeting planning applicants was noted; protective measures are being implemented.
- Future Site Walk: A site walk for 42 Ferry Road is scheduled for Friday, December 12, 2025, at 8:00 AM with the Conservation Commission.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everyone. We will begin this evening with a looks like we have a workshop this evening. Anything, Charles, to address the money. Great. Board members, any conflicts or disclosures before we review this workshop item. No. All right, great. If the applicant wants to come on up and give us a presentation, that'd be great. Good evening. Drew Olehowski with Haley Board representing the applicant, Route 1 Gas, LLC. So yeah, we're here tonight for a sketch plan review of this project at 952 Portland Road. This is the first time that we've come before the board. So we're really here just to introduce you to the project and take any um comments or suggestions you might have into consideration as we put together um future site plan reviews for this project. So as you mentioned, the site is located at 952 Portland Road, which is map 62 lot 19, and we're within the Portland Road Zoning District. Um within this district, both a gas station and the vehicle fueling station are allowed as conditional uses. So our proposed use of the site is to add a new gas station building, which will be an approximately 2200 square foot structure, along with a vehicle vehicle fueling area. Um we're currently proposing four pumps, which would be eight fueling stations. Um other site features would include the parking spaces, the underground fuel tank, the dumpster, and landscaping. Um the site's only 30,000 square feet, so it's a pretty small lot, so not a whole lot we can do with it, so we tried to keep our design fairly compact and simple. Um the site currently has three curb cuts. There's two on Portland Road and one on Flagpond Road. Um for this development, we would propose to close off one of the ones on Route 1, leaving two, which would be modified to accommodate the fuel truck that would be visiting the site on a regular basis. Um by closing off one of the entrances on Route 1, we would open up the opportunity for a lot more aesthetically pleasing landscaping, which I think would be a big improvement over what the site currently looks like from Route One. Um regarding utilities, the site does currently have sewer and water stubs, which we'd plan on reusing. So no um issues there. We'll plan on working with main water and public works to get our ability to serve letters for those as needed. Um regarding stormwater. You have the parking lot and the building at the front of the lot, and the rear half of the lot is um just sort of scrub lawn area currently. Um as I mentioned, it's a pretty small lot, so even with our added impervious area, we won't expect a whole lot of um additional runoff. Um but if we do, we'll we'll have a stormwater management plan in accordance with the site plan ordinance. Um if we do have to do any sort of detention, I'm expecting some sort of underground storage features, but that'll all be included on future submissions. Um as usual. One of the big issues that we'll look at is traffic. Um looking at this site was um correspond with main DOT to see if we might need a traffic movement permit for this development. Um according to them, we will be under the 100-peak hour trip, so we're not planning on needing to do that permit, but we will still be providing a local traffic study in accordance with the site plan ordinance. Um if you're wondering how we're under that 100 peak hour trips. Um we are able to take credit for the existing gas pumps that were there within the last 10 years. So we're effectively only adding two pumps to the existing condition, so that's why we're able to stay under that number. So we're hoping that there's not any major issues resulting from traffic. Um we have met with city staff a few times on this project now. There weren't too many huge issues that were brought up. One of the main ones was the orientation of the site. Just if we could have the building at the front of the lot and the gas pumps out back. We did have a few major concerns with doing that. Um one of them is just safety, um, not being able to see the road. Opens the door to uh um robbery or things like that, a gas pumps where people have their wallets out, so that would be a big concern for us. Um and again, when you're looking for a gas station to fuel up at, you want to be able to see the gas pumps to see if they're open or not. So that's why we have decided to stick with the layout as it is currently. Um one of the other topics is our relationship to the residential property further up along Flag Pond Road to our north. Um we currently show pavement right up to their property line, but we'll be looking at revising that.
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