Planning Board approves revised 800 Portland Road condominium project with conditions

The Saco Planning Board on July 15 granted preliminary subdivision, site plan and conditional use approval for a revised condominium and commercial proposal at 800 Portland Road (Map 59, Lot 1).

The applicant, represented by Cale Barassa of Gohrle Palmer, reduced the residential count from 49 to 46 units, removed all single‑family detached homes in favor of duplexes and shifted structures so none sit inside the 75‑foot setback. The project also includes a 3,000‑square‑foot commercial space along Route 1. City planner Emily Cole Prescott told the board the applicant had filed delegated review paperwork with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and provided updated draft findings and conditions.

Why it matters: The project is a sizable infill residential proposal along the Portland Road corridor and required multiple technical reviews for buffering, wetlands, stormwater, traffic and utility detail. Board members pressed the applicant on buffering to Millbrook, stormwater, mailbox and solid waste locations, hydrant placement, foundation types and public safety access.

Most important details - Applicant: Groll/Gohrle Palmer; representative Cale Barassa. - Change since last hearing: plan revisions that removed single‑family units, reduced total units to 46, pulled structures out of the 75‑foot setback and added perimeter canopy plantings to increase buffer to Millbrook. - Commercial tenant: applicant said an existing Saco business (likely a physical therapy office) is lined up for the commercial space. - Technical work: revised landscaping, wetlands coordination, DEP permit‑by‑rule submission pending, traffic and stormwater analyses updated, additional information submitted in an "after the fact" packet; city engineer review remains a condition.

Board discussion and conditions Board members repeatedly asked for verification of final engineering responses and peer review comments before final approval. Jim Moyer moved to adopt draft findings of fact (as modified during public discussion); the board voted 5–1 to adopt those findings. The board adopted amended conditions of approval (6–0) that require the applicant to resolve outstanding city engineer and peer review comments, provide final condominium documents at final review, and follow up on the financial‑capacity documentation. The board also required coordination with staff and the city attorney on deed restrictions, maintenance agreements for private stormwater and sewer facilities, and other standard final permitting steps.

Votes and outcomes - Motion to adopt findings of fact (as amended): passed 5–1 (Jeff Bruscheau opposed). - Motion to adopt conditions of approval (as amended): passed 6–0. - Motion to grant preliminary subdivision, site plan and conditional use approval: passed 5–1 (Jeff Bruscheau opposed).

What happens next Before final subdivision review the applicant must resolve outstanding peer‑review and city engineer comments, provide the final condominium declarations for staff and attorney review (including any deeded no‑cut/ buffer restrictions proposed), and confirm details about financial capacity (staff will follow up on the lending documentation). The board recorded that it expects the applicant to return with final materials and staff responses to outstanding engineering items.

Quotes "We've now removed all of the single family structures," said Cale Barassa, summarizing the plan changes that increased the buffer to Millbrook. "There's documentation on the record that talks about the financial capacity," Emily Cole Prescott said, urging the board to direct staff to confirm an unfamiliar lender listed in the submission before final approval.

Ending The board's approval is preliminary and conditioned on the outstanding engineering, stormwater and legal items being resolved before final permits are issued. The vote reflects support for the revised plan while preserving staff and peer‑review checks before construction begins.