Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

1 hour ago

Yarmouth village condo project is moving forward

Yarmouth village condo project Courtesy rendering This rendering shows one of the three four-story buildings to be built as part of the Railroad Square development project, which will include a total of 66 condos.
By Tina Fischer

The first phase of development for the 66-unit Railroad Square condo project received planning board approval in late January and is now in the permitting process. 

Phase 1 is the largest of the two-tier project and will include three four-story buildings and six three-story attached townhouses. The condos will be market-rate and are designated for residents aged 55 and over. The site is on Main Street, between the Bickford Pavilion and South Street. 

The proposal initially caused concern amongst some residents about increased traffic and its effect on the character of the downtown when it was first brought forward in late 2020.

Yarmouth’s Director of Planning and Development Erin Zwirko said the project was larger then and included redevelopment of 298 Main St. for 15 apartments and 3,000 square feet of commercial space. That portion of the project is now being developed separately by Windham-based Authentic Foundations 298 LLC. A building permit was issued in late January. 

Railroad Square

Yarmouth resident Patrick Ducas and Justin Loviett of Freeport are the principals of Railroad Square of Yarmouth LLC. Ducas Construction is the project’s general contractor. The team’s request for a height variance for the three largest buildings in their project was the final hurdle to getting the green light. The Planning Board approved a waiver at its January 22 meeting.

Zwirko noted, “That was in their purview. It’s not precedent setting.” 

The town’s Economic Development Advisory Board has endorsed the condo project, citing both tax benefits and the potential for it to spur further economic development in the village. In a Jan. 15 letter to the planning board, EDAB Chair Deb Wathen-Finn noted, “Yarmouth town staff are consistently looking for spaces to place incoming businesses and ways to combat Maine’s housing shortage. This project promises sizable additions of needed residential and commercial units on our Main Street.”

The tallest buildings are sited toward the back of the triangular-shaped lot, adjacent to the railroad tracks. The three-story townhouses are closer to neighbors on South Street. Ducas and Loviett are planning significant plantings and fencing as buffers. Utilities for all of the buildings and parking will be underground.

Zwirko said it’s possible the start of development on Phase 1 could get underway this summer, but warned that timeframe is “ambitious.”

Before they can break ground, Zwirko added, they need approvals from the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers. They’ll also need building permits and permits for the associated trades on the project.

"These are standard requirements, nothing is out of the ordinary," she said. "These are significant buildings so all that could take some time.”

Zwirko added that site plan review for Phase 2 will be “sometime in the future” and has not yet been scheduled by the planning board. That piece of the project proposes two mixed-use buildings totaling 10,000 square feet, with first-floor commercial and as many as 20 apartments.
 
Another aspect of Phase 1 involves enclosing the open Bickford pavilion to allow for community-wide year-round use. That change leaves the Yarmouth farmers’ market without a venue. Longtime market manager Amy Sinclair has told vendors she does not foresee the market finding an alternate space in town by this summer.

Zwirko said, ”The town is providing recommendations and ongoing support. We continue to offer support where we can.” She added, “We’re excited to see this project moving forward after a really long period of time. It will provide more housing and community amenities with the upgrading of the pavilion.”

Sign up for Enews

Mainebiz web partners

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF