The Saco Planning Board convened on June 2, 2026 at 9:59 PM (meeting started earlier, adjourned at 9:33 PM) under Chair Matt Prevenzel. The board approved minutes, adopted revised standard operating procedures, and addressed several subdivision applications. Key items included the final approval of 986 Portland Road, a prolonged discussion on the 321 Lincoln Street subdivision (94 lots) regarding phasing and a contested sidewalk extension, and completeness reviews for 42 Ferry Road (25 units) and 196 Jenkins Road (14 lots). Public comments raised concerns about tree surveys, construction impacts, drainage, and noise.
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 Socco 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 a 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 the responsibility entrusted to us by our community, working diligently and thoughtfully to chart a course that fosters growth, prosperity, and harmony. With us this evening, myself, Matt Prevenzel, the chair of the board. Board Member Catherine Pellini is absent as well. Along with our Ward Seven City Council liaison, Nathan Johnson. So that doesn't really hold context to what's going on. It's the ones that didn't have generators. I was hoping we might be able to strike the first two sentences and maybe just um replace it that the board asked for clarification on how the E1 system will interact with some homes, having optional generators and others not, as well as backflow preventers. I think that'll just kind of sum up everything that we were asking. Thank you. And then keep it on. Then I have an another one on page two in the middle for the 952 Portland Road, Route 1 gas. It talked about the canopy lighting higher than 20 feet. And I think it meant to say foot candles. We're gonna correct that to our canopy level of foot candles. So if we could change 20 feet to foot candles. And then the middle, there was it talked about the turning and how traffic it talked about knowing the traffic light will be installed, which I'm a little confused on because the traffic light already is installed. Um then it had the description of the turning movement to enter north by turning into flagpond road and then turning into the property. And it says left hand turn onto Route One southbound only. It should be a right hand turn on the south route one southbound only. I'm just kind of capturing our discussion. That left makes it really confusing because you can't leave the lot onto Route 1 directly and head south turning left. Um then the final one was uh our planning updates. We were talking about flag pond road, and um Charles had given a background recording to the board proposed to make a negative, and it said background recommendation, and I think it's a a a negative recommendation to the council. So if we could just change background for recommendation, I think that would um take care of a lot of the the items I picked on. Thank you. Sure, thank you, Jeff. Any other thoughts or comments or any discussion on Jeff's items? Mr. Chair, I'll move that we approve the uh the minutes with the uh revisions uh uh suggested by Jeff. I would second that motion. Thank you for the motion, Jim and the second Jeff. Any additional discussion? All right, those in favor, Chris? Yes. Jim? Yes. Jeff? Yes. I'll vote yes as well. Motion passes 4-0. All right, our next item on our agenda this evening is our planning board public hearing guidelines. This is a document developed by the board and city staff outlining the procedure in place for our public hearings held. This explains the purpose of the public hearings and uh outline procedure of reviewing an application, public comment presentation, and meeting duration. This is available at the rear of the auditorium along with digital versions on the city's website and as part of our packet each meeting. If anyone has any questions on that, please let us know and we'll do our best to answer those.