Windham mixed-use development gets preliminary planning board OK
Courtesy / Chase Custom Homes & Alliance Realty
Chase Custom Homes of Windham plans a 60-unit retirement community on the southeast shore of Highland Lake, in the photo, the right bottom area between the lake and U.S. Route 302.
The Windham Planning Board has given preliminary approval to a a 60-unit retirement community that also includes six roadside commercial units, planned for a former campground site on U.S. Route 302.
The Sunrise Cove development, on Highland Lake, could break ground in the fall if permitting from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection is complete. The environmental review is necessary since development around the lake and high phosphorus levels have caused concern in recent years.
Developers said Sunrise Cove will actually decrease phosphorous runoff into the lake, because of environmental and infrastructure solutions included in the project. The planning board has been reviewing the project, originally Twilight Cove, since last summer, and gave the site plan preliminary approval Feb. 10.
Chase Custom Homes & Finance Inc., of Westbrook, bought the 38.3-acre parcel at 19 Roosevelt Trail in 2016, and is the owner and builder of the development. Terradyn Consultants LLC, of New Gloucester, is managing the project design and permitting.
The site is just west of the town's border with Westbrook, and some of the development's lake area is in Falmouth. Sunrise Cove will have a mix of one- and two-story condominium buildings that will each have two to four units. The mixed-use buildings will be three stories high, with ground-floor commercial and apartments on the upper floors.
Focus on active lifestyles
Developers plan a gated community that will include a club house and swimming pool, as well as shared access to Highland Lake, including community boats and walking trails.
The gates are as much to protect the lake as the residents — in its plan description to the town, the developer said there was concern the general public would use the boat launch, increasing boat traffic and also possibly introducing invasive milfoil plants to the lake.
The focus of the 55-plus development is to promote active, healthy lifestyles, according to developers.
The trail network will include trails for dog walking and biking along the outer perimeter of the property, winding down to the lake. At the waterfront there will be canoe and kayak racks, picnic tables and a single dock with a small assortment of shared community boats. The shared boats will provide access for residents without having a significant impact on the level of boat traffic on Highland Lake, developers said.
The six commercial units will be on Route 302, and available to local businesses offering services that would support community residents, such as a coffee shop, hair salon or dog grooming spa. Tenants of the buildings will not have gate access.
Working with DEP
Terradyn's evaluation of phosphorous seeping into the lake from the property, much of it runoff from Route 302 and nearby properties, has determined that the project will reduce the issue.
Terradyn has worked with the DEP and the Highland Lake Association on the issue .
“By treating phosphorus runoff from Route 302 and removing chronic erosion sources, such as an existing moat, we anticipate actually lowering the phosphorus entering the lake. You can really say this is an environmentally-friendly development,” said Jeffrey D. Amos, president of Terradyn, in a news release.
The main solution is a stormwater pond in line with the perimeter drainage swale that would treat the runoff. The design also proposes the use of septic treatment tanks in lieu of standard septic tanks, resulting in significant reductions in phosphorus and nitrates, said the release.
“The development plans are very well-designed,” said Rosie Hartzler, representative from Highland Lakes Association. "We really value the way the developer and architect have taken progressive steps to speak to the concerns of the HLA and Highland Lake waterfront owners.”
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