Planning board delays Brickyard Commons review amid wetlands, safety and neighborhood concerns

The Auburn Planning Board on April 8 postponed action on the Brickyard Commons site plan and set a public site walk for 4:00 p.m. on May 13 at the Brickyard Circle property.

The Brickyard Commons application, submitted by JIG Investments, proposes a 96‑unit apartment complex made up of eight three‑story multifamily buildings, private roadway, stormwater infrastructure and associated parking and site improvements off Brickyard Circle and North Washington Street. Planning staff and the applicant described existing state approvals and local shoreland rules and recommended conditions for later approval.

Board and public concern focused on environmental and safety matters. Staff and the developer said the project has state Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits that were issued in 2022 and remain valid; staff noted the property lies inside a form‑based T‑5.1 general development subdistrict that reduces the municipal shoreland setback from 75 feet to 25 feet. Developers said approved permits authorize impacts to wetlands and outfalls and that those impacts were included in the 2022 approvals. Developer Mike Gotto said, “we had 25 foot setback…