Planning Board reviews Habitat for Humanity’s nine‑lot subdivision at 57 Castine Ave

The Portland Planning Board on Nov. 4 reviewed a workshop application from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland to subdivide a 5.3‑acre property at 57 Castine Avenue and a related parcel at 84 Aldworth into nine single‑family lots under the city’s conservation residential development (CRD) provisions.

Sean King, the city’s urban designer and the designated planner for the application, told the board the site contains a Maine Department of Environmental Protection–designated stream, forested wetlands and intermittent drainage channels. The proposal would reserve roughly half of the site’s natural area and use CRD dimensional relief to reduce lot sizes and preserve open space, he said.

Travis Luddier, an engineer with Northeast Civil Solutions representing the applicant, outlined two waiver requests: a reduced travel lane width (from the local standard of 14 feet to 12 feet in each direction) and relief from constructing sidewalks along the new street extension. Luddier said the proposed design would include curbing to capture stormwater and that the applicant is working to minimize impervious area and meet low‑impact development standards.

Chad Mullen, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, described the project as nine homeownership opportunities aimed at households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI). “These are homeownership opportunities in the city of Portland that are pretty difficult to come by these days,” Mullen said, adding the organization typically structures sales with a first mortgage and a silent second rather than permanent deed restrictions unless required by specific funding programs.

Public Works staff and board members questioned the lane‑width waiver because the city’s cross section anticipates on‑street parking and the lane width affects emergency access and maintenance. Sean King said Public Works expects some potential for on‑street parking and recommended maintaining the local street standard to allow guest parking. The applicant told the board it will revise the site plan to provide two off‑street parking spaces per lot to reduce pressure on on‑street parking.

Board members also discussed sidewalks. One member said a sidewalk network benefits families and neighborhood connectivity; others noted adjacent streets lack sidewalks and suggested a waiver could be justified if properly couched. The board did not vote; the item was a workshop intended to solicit feedback and identify outstanding information needs.

On permitting, King said the Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) permit from the state is a separate process and must be secured before building permits are issued. The city’s review focuses on the CRD standards, the site plan ordinance and local low‑impact development (LID) requirements. King told the board staff will expect the applicant to demonstrate that wetland impacts have been minimized and to provide stormwater peer‑review materials as part of future submittals.

A public commenter, Michael Manning, asked the record be corrected to note an error in neighborhood meeting notes and said Habitat’s attempt to purchase 84 Aldworth raised questions under Title 36 §943c of the Maine statutes (governing the sale of municipally owned foreclosed properties). King said the applicant submitted a purchase‑and‑sale agreement and deed in the packet and that staff will follow up on any legal aspects and confirm right, title and interest at the next hearing.

Next steps: applicants will revise the plans to address staff and Public Works concerns, provide documentation on vehicle parking and stormwater responses, and present right‑of‑title documentation and updated materials at a subsequent hearing. Because this was a workshop, the planning board did not take formal action.