Planning Board approves Saco School Department tree-clearing plan for Millbrook Road with conditions

The Saco Planning Board voted 5-0 on Feb. 18 to grant site-plan approval limited to tree clearing for the Saco School Department project on Millbrook Road (Map 60 Lots 15–18-1 and 60-20). The approval covers only the tree-removal phase and includes conditions and findings set by the board.

Why it matters: The school construction project requires early clearing to allow site work to proceed while avoiding the summer bat habitat period; the Planning Board approved limited clearing windows and other mitigation measures intended to reduce impacts on neighbors and natural resources.

What the board decided and why - Approval and vote: After public notice and a site walk, the board adopted findings of fact and conditions of approval and then voted to grant site-plan approval for tree removal; the vote to grant approval was 5-0. - Timing and wildlife protections: Applicant Norm Lemiere of Oak Point Associates and the project contractor said clearing would aim to occur before April 15 to avoid harming northern long‑eared bat summer habitat; the applicant proposed limited early clearing between September 1 and November as an earlier work window and then completing remaining clearing before April 15. The board added a condition requiring tree clearing be complete by April 15 and to follow representations made by the applicant on timing. - Good Neighbor Standards and conditions: The board explicitly required compliance with the city’s Good Neighbor Standards (hours, days and other limits on noisy construction activities) and asked the applicant to submit a traffic-control plan to planning and public-works staff for final approval. The board also required field-marking of clearing limits and a pre-construction meeting with staff. - Environmental review: The application included a wetland delineation and wildlife peer review; the board noted that wetlands and vernal pools flagged on the site will be protected and not cleared. The applicant obtained a DEP note allowing limited stump removal in a staging area and estimated the initial clearing footprint at roughly three-quarters of an acre in one accessed spot about 700 feet from Route 1.

Public comment and process: The board opened and closed a public hearing; no members of the public spoke at the hearing. The board discussed draft findings and made explicit edits before adopting them and the conditions.

Formal actions recorded (summary) - Motion to adopt the draft findings of fact as amended: passed 5-0 (mover: Joyce Lurie Clark; second: Jeff Brochu). - Motion to adopt conditions of approval as amended (including Good Neighbor Standards and tree-clearing timing): passed 5-0 (mover: Jim Moyer; second: Jeff Brochu). - Motion to grant site-plan approval for tree removal (Saco School Department): passed 5-0 (mover: Jim Moyer; second: Joyce Lurie Clark).

Next steps: Staff will require the applicant to submit a traffic-control plan, field-mark the clearing limits and supply a plan set with a planning-board signature block. A pre-construction meeting with staff will be scheduled before work begins.

Speakers quoted or referenced: Norm Lemiere (Oak Point Associates), Emily Cole Prescott (City Planner), Jim Moyer (Planning Board member), Joyce Lurie Clark (vice chair), Jeff Brochu (Planning Board member).