Planning Board grants preliminary approval for 94‑lot Lincoln Street subdivision with sidewalk and traffic conditions

The Saco Planning Board voted 6–1 on Feb. 17 to grant preliminary subdivision and site‑plan approval for Big Ledge LLC’s proposed 94‑lot residential development at 321 Lincoln Street.

Drew Gaiden, representing Coral Palmer and Big Ledge, told the board the applicant had worked through Department of Public Works comments and proposed sidewalks along every new public street and off‑site connections toward Bradley Street, Tasker Street and the Lincoln Street frontage. He cited site‑plan and subdivision code sections as the basis for the sidewalk layout and asked the board to consider preliminary approval tonight.

During the public hearing, residents and neighborhood commenters raised repeated concerns about traffic and the currency of existing traffic counts, noting that some study data in the application and peer reviews dated to 2022 and spring 2025 and may not reflect recent state turnpike changes. “This traffic study isn’t sufficient,” said Kelly Archer, urging the board to require an updated traffic impact study that accounts for recent local changes.

Board members debated the scope of off‑site sidewalk expectations and whether the city should fund longer sidewalk extensions where there is no planned municipal program to complete the connection. The board amended the draft findings of fact and conditions to clarify traffic language, asked staff to require final compliance with the city’s technical standards and ordinance conditions, and approved a waiver allowing Sparrow Lane to be a public way under modified technical standards; that waiver was granted 7–0.

After debate over conditions, the board adopted the findings and conditions (6–1) and approved preliminary subdivision, site‑plan and SLOTA approval (6–1). One member opposed final preliminary approval, citing outstanding connectivity and off‑site safety concerns.

The board’s conditions require applicants to resolve remaining Public Works items, provide required legal and HOA documents, and update documents cited in the conditions. The planning staff will monitor final engineering, sidewalk details and any revised traffic analyses before final subdivision approval.