Planning board grants preliminary approval for Drake Station life‑care facility, requires traffic‑control design for final plan

Drake Station LLC and its consultant team updated the Town of Wells Planning Board on a proposed life-care facility at the Drakes Island / Route 1 intersection and received preliminary subdivision approval on Aug. 4. Consultant Jeff Aliva and applicant Benjamin Meggs briefed the board on the project’s progress, noting ongoing discussions with Maine DOT on a required traffic signal and a pending DEP stormwater permit.

Planner Mike said the project met the preliminary completeness checklist but listed compliance items that must be included with the final plan. Those items included a traffic-light design to be provided with the final submission, architectural elevations and rooflines consistent with the town’s design/architectural standards for the historic/GB/RC areas, specific life-care facility notes, clarification of gross floor areas (whether garage areas are included), and the stormwater permit from DEP.

Board members emphasized the traffic-control requirement. The board agreed that a traffic-control system (a signal) will be required as part of final approval and that the final plan will not be approved without a traffic-light design. Members discussed phasing and whether a traffic-control device must be installed before a specified number of occupied units; board members suggested limiting initial occupancy until the signal is in place and asked the applicant to provide a phased construction plan showing construction entrances and vehicle routing to limit impacts on wetlands and to control sediment during construction.

Aliva said the team is working with its traffic engineer and DOT; DEP had returned favorable initial stormwater comments and the applicant is waiting for full permit approval. The board voted unanimously to grant preliminary subdivision approval with conditions and reminded the applicant that final plan approval must include the listed compliance items; the preliminary approval sets a six-month timeline for a final submission unless the applicant returns sooner.

Next steps: the applicant will continue coordination with DOT on the signal, finalize traffic-light design and funding approach, supply architectural elevations for the historical/GB/RC-design standards review, and provide a phasing plan and erosion-control measures tied to construction routes.