York Town News
Union Bluff plan approved, Highland Farm talks continue
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - Discussions of what has been described as a major subdivision at Highland Farm on Cider Hill Road continued at last week's Planning Board meeting, while a final plan to raze the York Beach Cinema for a new commercial building received the board's support.During its meeting on Thursday, Oct. 12, the board held its final review and approved a plan proposed by the Union Bluff to demolish the York Beach Cinema and replace it with a three-story, multi-use building.
JoAnn Fryer of CLD Engineering, representing the applicant, noted changes from the preliminary plan approved back in January include a reconfiguration of the site to accommodate a possible nearby use of a new public safety complex in York Beach. The town has been reviewing sites across town for such municipal uses as a new town hall and police station over the course of the past year as the York Police Department has outgrown its space on Main Street in York Beach.
Fryer noted the final plan for the Union Bluff project includes the removal of the existing 19th-century York Beach Cinema building on Beach Street to replace it with a three-story building with retail and office space, a 250-seat function hall and eight hotel suites. The project includes provisions for shuttle service from an off-site lot to be located on Ridge Road.
"I think it's a shame to see the cinema go," said Glenn Farrell of the Planning Board, who added he had no objection with the proposed project itself.
The board praised the applicant for providing off-site parking and a shuttle system to offset parking woes during the peak season in the beach.
Although the plan was approved, no demolition can take place at the site until the board has signed its findings of fact, which is expected to occur at its next meeting.
Earlier in the meeting, the Planning Board once again heard from abutters and conservationists with concerns related to the proposed 27-lot Highland Farm Phase 2 subdivision. Originally proposed at 21 lots, the increase came when the Planning Board denied a waiver for a requirement to provide town water at the site.
Steve Haight, representing Moon River Development on the project, explained that the requirement for public water brings with it higher density provisions for the site - adding those additional homes are needed to offset the significant cost of bringing water to the project.
Opponents of the plan have cited its proximity to Boulter Pond, the Mount Agamenticus conservation region and the York River Watershed, stressing the impact of the development on both water quality and wildlife.
"This is an entire coastal marsh, estuarine watershed," said local resident Carol Donnelly. "… the York River system is one of the most biologically diverse coastal river watersheds in the Gulf of Maine. … This includes the upper reaches. … Alterations to the land in question of this magnitude will have irretrievable effects."
Several abutters voiced similar opposition.
Haight said Moon River has heard the concerns expressed by the Planning Board and residents at the many public hearings on this project and is wiling to "do whatever we need to do to show you a plan that tries to address some of those."
Based on the magnitude of the project, the applicant and the Planning Board agreed to an extended review with a timeline of 60 days from last week's meeting.
The board has asked Haight to provide additional information at the next meeting as the preliminary review continues, and the discussion of whether a waiver from the water requirement to allow for less density may continue at that time, pending more information from public safety officials on the subject.
In other business, the board heard from a resident seeking to locate a wind tower on Seafarer Way to offset energy costs, discussed an upgrade of lighting at Cottage Place on Route 1, reviewed minor amendments to the Sparhawk subdivision and approved an application for a four-lot subdivision known as Pine Hill Estates.
More on what's on the agenda for the Planning Board can be found by following the Planning Department links at the town website, www.yorkmaine.org.
