The Saco Planning Board voted Aug. 19 to find complete the Saco School Department’s site‑plan application for a new consolidated primary (PreK–K) and elementary (grades 1–5) campus at Beth Johnston Way, near the Millbrook and Portland Road intersection, and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 16.

The application, presented by Superintendent Jeremy Ray and civil engineer Jonah DeWaters of Oak Point Associates, covers two separate school buildings on a roughly 57‑acre parcel in the Portland Road zoning district. The board’s completeness vote (6–0) allows staff and the applicant to proceed to a noticed public hearing and later, local site‑plan review steps required before permitting and bidding.

Why it matters: the project will consolidate existing programs into a single campus and is largely state financed—DeWaters said roughly three‑quarters of the project cost is state funded—while the primary school component is locally funded by a voter‑approved referendum. The application also triggers multiple state and federal reviews because of wetland impacts and off‑site traffic changes that affect Route 1 and Millbrook Road.

Key details and timeline: the elementary school is shown as a two‑story, about 106,000‑square‑foot building (the team listed capacity figures during the presentation), and the primary school as a one‑story, about 60,000‑square‑foot building. The project team described site features including about 313 parking spaces, bus queuing for about 16 buses, utility connections from Route 1, geothermal well fields under staff parking and a soccer field, playgrounds, and future expansion areas the Maine Department of Education requires be reserved in the design. DeWaters said construction is planned to begin in late fall (bids out soon) and run through 2028 with a target opening for the 2028–29 school year. State and local permits cited by staff and the applicant include Department of Education approvals, a State DOT traffic movement permit already issued, NRPA and related wetland permits, Army Corps coordination and a SLOTA amendment as part of the Millbrook Business Park cumulative review.

What the board discussed: members pressed staff and the applicant on wetlands delineation, off‑site improvements, and a reported dimensional/height issue in an overlay district tied to an enclosed stair that slightly exceeds a 35‑foot maximum. City planning staff said dimensional waivers typically proceed through the Zoning Board of Appeals and staff would work with the applicant to clarify whether a variance or alternative treatment is needed. Board members also asked whether sidewalks would be built on both sides of Route 1; the applicant said DOT did not require new sidewalks on the west side as part of the intersection work but discussed plans to add sidewalk there shortly after the project through separate work.

Actions taken: the board voted 6–0 to find the application complete and separately voted 6–0 to schedule a public hearing for Sept. 16. The board’s action was limited to an application completeness determination; final substantive approvals will be taken at later hearings.

Next steps and outstanding items: staff noted easements between the city and the school remain under negotiation, additional state approvals (DEP/NRPA) are outstanding, and staff recommended questions about the building‑height detail be resolved with the applicant and Zoning Board process if necessary before final approvals.

Speakers quoted: “This project is located within the Portland Road Zoning District,” City Planner Emily Cole Prescott said during the completeness discussion. Jonah DeWaters, Oak Point Associates, summarized permitting needs and construction timing: “We are tracking putting this out to bid shortly and, if everything goes well we’re hoping to start construction here in the fall.”

Where to find more: the board set a public hearing for Sept. 16; local residents will receive mailed notice according to the city’s noticing rules and the hearing materials will appear in the planning board packet.