Saco Planning Board Meeting January 6, 2026: Subdivision Reviews, Public Hearings, and Officer Elections
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Saco Planning Board Meeting January 6, 2026: Subdivision Reviews, Public Hearings, and Officer Elections
The Saco Planning Board convened on January 6, 2026, at approximately 6:30 PM. The board re-elected Matt Provencel as Chair and Joyce Larry Clark as Vice Chair for 2026, then reviewed multiple subdivision applications, heard public comments, and set future meeting dates.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of December 16, 2025 planning board minutes was deferred to January 20, 2026, as minutes were not yet available.
- The planning board public hearing guidelines were reviewed and available online and in print.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Steph Normantis (90 Jenkins Road) expressed concern about the impact of the proposed division at 83 Jenkins Road on city water availability and whether she would be forced to connect to city water.
- James Wiggs (200 Jenkins Road) raised concerns about a boundary marker that may have been moved and potential stormwater runoff from the 196 Jenkins Road development, stating he lives lower than the land.
Discussion Items
- Nominations for Chair and Vice Chair: Matt Provencel was nominated and unanimously re-elected as Chair; Joyce Larry Clark was nominated and unanimously re-elected as Vice Chair for the 2026 calendar year.
- Application 196 Jenkins Road (14-lot subdivision): The applicant reported reducing the private road length by 78 feet to comply with the 1,500 linear foot limit and provided updates on wetland permits and stormwater modeling. Board member Jeff Brusho raised several technical issues (lighting fixtures, easement widths, stormwater design). The board found the application complete (5-0), opened a public hearing, heard public comment, and continued the hearing to February 3, 2026, to allow the applicant to address outstanding items.
- Application 63 Watson Mill Road (4-lot subdivision): The applicant sought a waiver from stormwater quality treatment standards (Section 188-803) due to linear exemption. The board granted the waiver (5-0), reopened and closed the public hearing (5-0), and after amending findings of fact and conditions (including trash disposal and financial capacity), approved preliminary subdivision and site plan approval (5-0).
- Application Lincoln Road and Eloise Way (final subdivision): The applicant explained the lot line adjustment and noted the two additional lots created by state exemption were not part of the subdivision. The board reopened and closed the public hearing (5-0), adopted amended findings of fact and conditions of approval (5-0), and granted final subdivision approval (5-0).
- Application 83 Jenkins Road (12-lot to 8-lot townhouse proposal): The applicant presented a revised plan with 8 lots and 15 townhouse units, shifting from a 12-lot single-family subdivision. Discussion covered waivers for dead-end road length (1,176 feet, waiver requested), directional boring for sewer under Goose Fair Brook, and stormwater management. The board scheduled a site walk for January 21, 2026 (8 AM) and continued both the completeness review and public hearing to February 17, 2026 (5-0).
- Application 352 North Street (change of ownership for hotel site plan): The applicant requested a name change from Northeastern Hospitality to North Street Holdings due to condominium financing. The board reviewed submitted documents, found the application complete (5-0), opened the public hearing, and continued both the hearing and review to January 20, 2026, pending city attorney review of the condominium documents (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- Elections: Matt Provencel re-elected Chair, Joyce Larry Clark re-elected Vice Chair for 2026.
- 196 Jenkins Road: Application found complete; public hearing continued to February 3, 2026.
- 63 Watson Mill Road: Waiver granted; preliminary subdivision and site plan approved; final subdivision application required.
- Lincoln Road & Eloise Way: Final subdivision approval granted.
- 83 Jenkins Road: Site walk scheduled January 21, 2026; review continued to February 17, 2026.
- 352 North Street: Application found complete; public hearing and review continued to January 20, 2026, pending legal review.
- Upcoming Dates: Joint city council/planning board meeting January 12, 2026 (6:30 PM); planning board training January 13, 2026; regular meeting January 20, 2026; site walk January 21, 2026 (8 AM).
- Board Vacancy: Member Camille White resigned; applications for replacement may be submitted to planning staff or city clerk.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the planning board and valued community representatives. I welcome you all to this evening's assembly of the Socal Planning Board. As chairman, it is my privilege to convene this gathering dedicated to the thoughtful planning and development of our community. Today we come together with shared commitment to shaping the future of 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. 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 responsibility entrusted to us by our community, working diligently and thoughtfully to try to course that fosters growth, prosperity, and harmony. With us this evening, myself, Matt Provencel, the chair of the board. And to my left, we have our Vice Chair, Joyce Larry Clark, and Planning Board members, Jeff Brusho, Catherine Pelini, excuse me, and Jim Molyer, along with our city staff members, Lisa Harman, our planning compliance manager, and Charles Tettelman, our city planner. We we're gonna make a few minor adjustments to our agenda this evening. We're going to add nominations of chairs this evening immediately following my statement here. But then we're also going to flip item five and item four together. So we'll explain our planning board hearing guidelines and then move into public comment. But other than that, our agenda will remain as presented this evening. So with that at our yearly at our first meeting of the year, we do nominations for chair and vice chair. And then that's how we'll move throughout the rest of our calendar year here with the board. So with that, are there any nominations or volunteers for anyone like to present? Mr. Chair, if I may, I would nominate you, Matt Preventsel for the chair for the 2026 calendar year of the Socco Planning Board. I'll second. All right, thank you for the consideration. Any further thoughts or comments? Any deliberation. Thank you for volunteering, Matt. It's my pleasure. All right, so with that, we will move to vote on that nomination. Those in favor, Jim? Yes. Joyce? Yes. Jim. I really said Jim, sorry, excuse me, Jeff. Yes. And Catherine? Yes. And I guess I will accept that nomination. Thank you all. Um for your trust. So with that, our vice chair role. Mr. Chair, if I may, I would nominate Joyce Leary Clark to continue on as the vice chair of the Soccer Planning Board for the 2026 calendar year. Second. Thank you, Jeff, for the nomination of Joyce and Jim the second. Any further deliberation or any other considerations? All right. Well, those in favor of that nomination for Joyce to continue the role of vice chair. Jim. Yes. Jeff. Yes.
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