Some Kittery residents balk at proposed mixed-use development
In Kittery, a proposed $300 million development of 900 residential units, an assisted living facility, a day care, brewery, offices and retail space has prompted a petition by residents who oppose the mixed-use project.
At a time of a statewide housing crunch, the residents’ petition seeks to repeal the mixed-use neighborhood zoning and replace it with business park zoning.
A public hearing with the Kittery Town Council and Kittery Planning Board will be held July 13 at 6 p.m. in the Kittery Town Hall. The council can either enact the change the petition requests or call a special meeting to let voters decide.
The proposed development would increase Kittery’s current population of about 10,000 residents by 20% with 1,800 to 2,100 newcomers.
The 83-acre property at 98 Dennett Road and 27 Route 36 in Kittery is currently undeveloped. The swath would become the site of 11 separate areas of development, including 30,000 square feet of food-service and retail space, 29,000 square feet of medical and office space, and 42,000 square feet for life-science industry operations, according to a proposal filed with the Kittery Planning Board.
In November 2018, after public debate and some residential opposition, the council changed the business park zoning to a mixed-used neighborhood zone.
Another project nearby called Seacoast Residences, a 282-unit, previously approved apartment development, is already under construction at 76 Dennett Road.
The petition was required to have a minimum number of signatures equaling 10% of town voters in the previous gubernatorial election. That would require 499 signatures. The petition gathered more than necessary with 654 signatures.
Charles Denault, a petition organizer, did not respond to requests for comment. Representatives from Dennett Landing also did not return calls seeking comment.
A report by the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission and the New England District Council of the Urban Land Institute has said that workforce housing and better transportation are keys to retaining workers in southern Maine.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments