York Town News
Planners get glimpse of Fazio's Square, approve Cape Neddick House plan, discuss Highland Farm
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - The Fazio property on Woodbridge Road could look quite different in the future, as preliminary plans are in the works for a new professional office building to replace the two structures that currently share the lot with Fazio's Restaurant.The Planning Board took its first look at the proposed Fazio/Woodbridge Square at its meeting on Thursday, Nov. 9. Local business owner Annette Fazio and Construction Manager John DeStefano detailed the preliminary plans to the board.
"What Annette would like to do is create one new building for office use," DeStefano told the board.
The proposed two-story building for the nonconforming lot would encompass approximately 14,000 square feet of floor area.
"We've been able to improve sight distances by moving the building back," DeStefano said of the plan, adding the concept is to widen the entry and create turn-around drop-off space for the building.
The project would maintain the second entry currently on the site, and anticipated improvements would include landscaping, lighting and paving. The new facility would be connected to existing sewer, water and storm drainage systems on the site.
Town Planner Steve Burns confirmed that the proposed building would conform with local ordinances, while the two partially-vacant buildings currently on the site with the restaurant do not.
Planning Board Chairman Glen MacWilliams questioned whether the proposed facility would be a medical office building, but the design team stated at this time they would simply call it a professional office building.
During a public hearing on the preliminary plan, local resident Cynthia Raymond suggested the applicant and town might want to consider the facility not for offices but for a new Town Hall, based on the proximity to banks and the post office, as well as the existence of water and sewer on the site.
The Planning Board members discussed such issues as drainage, parking and traffic impact on the site, as well as the character of the new building and the neighborhood surrounding it. Planning Board member Barrie Munro described such plans as the heart and soul of York's future, but told the applicant the board would be looking at each detail and implication of such a development.
Fazio told the board that as the approval process continues for the future development, she hopes to refurbish the existing two buildings to continue renting those properties in the meantime.
The next item on the agenda was the ongoing discussion of Highland Farm Phase 2, to be located off Route 91. The board approved a change to the access road to be built as part of the first phase, and then entered into a lengthy discussion with the applicant that ended with a decision to schedule a meeting just on the Highland Farm issue.
Several residents and abutters spoke out against the proposed 27-lot subdivision at the meeting, citing such issues as wildlife in the area and the potential impact on Boulter Pond, which is part of the Kittery Water District's watershed.
Drainage from the site onto Route 91, especially in light of damage to the roadway during the Mother's Day flood, also came up during the discussion.
The Planning Board and applicant previously agreed to extend the preliminary review discussions for 60 days in order to address the complicated issues related to this project and agreed to meet in the weeks ahead to adhere to that extended deadline.
While there is no answer yet on the preliminary plan for Highland Farm, the board has given its unanimous approval, with conditions, to an application for a Route 1 Use Permit to redevelop the former Cape Neddick House Bed and Breakfast.
Jennifer Marshall, one of the four partners seeking to redevelop the site with mixed residential, retail, office and restaurant uses at the Victorian-era house and barn, spoke to the board with JoAnn Fryer of CLD Engineering.
"The vision we have for the property realizes the vision of the Route 1 corridor for the Cape Neddick Village," Marshall told the board.
The plan includes a mix of small-scale retail, restaurant and office space, while maintaining an on-site residential presence as had been the case for the bed and breakfast.
She described the vision of a "village marketplace" for diverse interests including rental spaces in the barn where artisans and local business people may showcase and market their crafts, artwork and other goods.
The Cape Neddick House Realty Partners hope to enhance the historic character of the 19th-century building while providing space to a variety of tenants, she said, including an ice cream parlor in the former Cape Neddick Post Office located on the site.
The house itself will feature a café and retail store downstairs and single offices with private bathrooms occupying the former bedrooms from its bed-and-breakfast days.
Marshall called it a "diamond in the rough that we believe we have the talent … to polish."
Fryer explained the plan is to renovate the property in phases so that some existing uses can continue as new uses move in, helping to generate cashflow to keep the project moving forward. All site work will be included in the first phase, she said.
At the meeting's end, the Planning Board discussed a letter regarding drainage and stormwater concerns in the area of Route 1 in proximity to Orchard Farms, TAGT and Bragdon Commons. More on that issue will be discussed at a future meeting.
In other business, the board discussed the Sparhawk Subdivision and the York Public Works Department garage expansion plan and approved a reduction from four to two lots for the Dworkin/Clay Hill Farm Subdivision and a minor lot line change for the York Shores Subdivision.
