Oscar Plotkin, who is considering a 200-acre development in York Beach to include the York's Wild Kingdom property, is seen here with architect Rick Joy at the York Harbor Inn during a recent visit to town.
Photo by Jessey Taylor
YORK HARBOR - After a one-year absence, potential York's Wild Kingdom developer Oscar Plotkin recently returned to town for a meeting with local media.
A small gathering was held at the York Harbor Inn on March 12 to discuss future plans for a 200-acre piece of land that encompasses York's Wild Kingdom.
With this visit to York, Plotkin, of Berkshire Development, LLC, introduced architect Rick Joy to town officials. Plotkin and Joy spent two days exploring the grounds at York's Wild Kingdom and talking to locals about their plans for the future of York Beach.
At the beginning of the March 12 meeting, Plotkin stated that the reason for the gathering was primarily to speak with Selectwoman Kinley Gregg, who agreed to the meeting on the condition that the press was present to represent the public.
"I was uncomfortable with the idea of meeting in private to discuss public business, but I also recognized the mutual benefit of the town and Mr. Plotkin establishing a dialogue." said Gregg. "Therefore, I agreed to meet Oscar if the press were present to represent the public."
Others present at the gathering were York Beach Renaissance Committee Chair Dawn Fernald, Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathy Goodwin, Selectman Ted Little and York Housing Authority Chairman James Gambrill.
Plotkin announced that Joy was hired to come up with a "master plan" that would reflect the wishes of York residents. Plotkin claimed that with a world class architect like Joy, people would come from all over the country to see his "iconic" development.
"Our goal is to reclaim the vitality of York Beach," said Plotkin.
Some of the plans that Plotkin said he is considering for York Beach include an amphitheater, an indoor music hall, an aquarium, retail shops, a supermarket and workforce housing.
Gambrill expressed interest in learning more about the workforce housing and asked Joy to elaborate. Joy replied by stating that the workforce housing would be affordable and integrated with other housing rather than segregated.
"The housing in this project will be fun and nice to live in, integrated into the rest of the development and without the stigma associated with affordable housing," said Joy.
Goodwin presented the town's interest in having an ice rink, and this suggestion seemed to be well received by Plotkin and Joy.
Plotkin also noted that the town was lacking a community swimming pool and stated that he would like to consider that as an option as well.
"We only intend to add things that are going to stimulate the town," said Joy.
Plotkin noted that people in York were being driven out of their houses due to high taxes. He suggested his plans to "extend York Beach" would absorb a significant amount of the tax burden placed on local home owners.
Gregg and Little both inquired what Plotkin's intentions were regarding the wetlands in the area. Plotkin's answer suggested that the solution may lie in capitalizing upon the wetlands rather than working around them.
"I don't necessarily view the wetlands as a negative," said Plotkin. "You have to work with what you've got and accommodate all the drainage issues. Perhaps there would be a catwalk among the wetlands, and the area would become Central Park of York Beach and will catalyze economic vitality in the area."
Little asked Plotkin what he needed from the town to make the development a reality. Plotkin in return answered that the town would need to create a zoning ordinance for York Beach that was more adaptable.
"The Route 1 zoning code seems to be grounded in fear of commercial development like Walmart and similar properties," said Plotkin. "I wholeheartedly agree that kind of property would go a long way in tearing York asunder."
Plotkin suggested that it was up to the town to create a zoning ordinance that would allow growth for the town while still keeping out the kind of development that the town doesn't wish to accommodate.
"It's the substance of the law and not the letter of the law that we are concerned with," said Plotkin.
The current zoning ordinance was "tantamount to condemnation" when applied to his project, said Plotkin. He also said that he would like the town to shape a new zoning ordinance that would accommodate Joy's master plan, rather than the master plan being shaped to the current zoning standards.
Plotkin announced that he plans to submit a public presentation of his York Beach project at a Planning Board meeting this June.
Gambrill stated that he thought it would be beneficial to present a diagram to the town before plans were submitted to the Planning Board. He suggested placing the diagram at a central location such as the town library for people to see.
"I think you need to present something," said Gambrill. "It would be nice to see some sort of vision."
Plotkin and Joy both replied to Gambrill's suggestion with a response that has been the same for the past few years, stating that they are still in the design process.
"The idea is not to present a master plan that looks finished, but to present a ‘What If Plan' to the town," said Joy.
Plotkin concluded the meeting by stating, "I hope you realize that I'm not some thorny adversary that is out to undo your town because that would be antithetical to my own goals."
