SACO, Maine — The Saco Planning Board on Tuesday continued its review of Central Maine Power’s plan to upgrade the Factory Island substation after lengthy discussion about a requested sidewalk easement, visual buffering and a $150,000 offer from CMP for a city Downtown Gateway project.

The project would expand the substation yard and replace or upgrade transformers and associated equipment at the top of York Hill near Main Street. City staff said the developer and utility had submitted revised plans and responses to comments but had not finalized a sidewalk easement sought by the city for long-term pedestrian improvements.

City planner Emily Cole Prescott told the board, “So what, we had requested was that the applicant look into it and return with us, return to us with clarification on what that sidewalk easement could entail.” The board asked CMP to open a dialogue with the city’s real‑estate group; CMP representatives said final easement approval would need review beyond their project team.

Kara Moody of Stantec, representing CMP, summarized the applicant’s work: “We have responded to 2 rounds of comments received from the Department of Public Works. The most recent of which we just, provided a response earlier today.” She told the board the team was also coordinating an electrical-permit review and a traffic control plan for the first stage of work planned for the fall.

CMP’s Jack Wu, manager of environmental permitting, told the board that the utility could not commit late Tuesday to executing the easement without further internal review: “that is something that I don't believe we could agree to at this moment.” He said his real‑estate manager had been alerted and CMP would follow up.

Board members pressed on two linked issues: (1) whether the city should accept a $150,000 “fee‑in‑lieu” offer CMP proposed in place of on‑site plantings and (2) how much of the slope above Main Street the city would need as a sidewalk easement to permit future Gateway improvements. City staff said the amount and scope of the Gateway project are still being developed; that is how the $150,000 figure was raised by CMP as a funding offer for the city’s larger Downtown Gateway planning and hillside beautification.

Several board members said they favored moving the discussion forward while preserving the city’s right to secure the easement. Planning board member Jeff Bruscio said he supported getting a right of way for a sidewalk and saw the $150,000 as a potential way to fund landscaping and improvements. Other members said the city should clarify whether the funds would be spent on landscaping or roadway work.

The Planning Board also flagged technical review items for staff and the applicant, including clarifying the standard the project should meet for electrical installations. Board members and staff discussed whether local permitting language should reference the National Electrical Code or the National Electrical Safety Code for aspects of substation equipment and operations; board member Bruscio recommended tightening the conditions so they apply only to elements under local jurisdiction.

CMP project representatives said construction would be staged: CMP expects removal of some redundant distribution lines this fall and major substation work later in the year into 2026. Emily Cole Prescott said staff would treat the easement and the fee as linked items in final conditions and that the language could be revised to reflect realistic timelines.

The Planning Board voted 6‑0 to continue the public hearing and the application review to Aug. 19 so staff can pursue follow‑up with CMP’s real‑estate group, the city engineer and other departments and return with recommended changes to the draft conditions of approval.

What remains: the board asked CMP and city staff to (1) confirm whether a sidewalk easement of any width is feasible for the property, (2) define how the fee would be held and used if accepted, and (3) revise permit language about which electrical codes and inspections the city can require. The board also requested clearer plan sheets for final visual‑buffering work and a written agreement on how the $150,000 would be staged and spent if the board accepts it.

The continued hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19. Until the parties resolve the easement and the city clarifies how it would use the fee‑in‑lieu, the board will not advance a final approval.