Planning Board approves 100 Main Street site plan converting office to six units on Saco Island

SACO — The Planning Board approved a site plan on April 7 for the conversion of an office building at 100 Main Street (Map 37, Lot 1) into six residential dwelling units in the Saco Island zoning district, adopting edited findings and conditions before a unanimous vote.

City planner Charles Tedleman told the board staff had verified that mezzanine repairs previously questioned at earlier hearings were completed and that escrow funds had been returned after code‑enforcement review. Remaining issues centered on sight distance at the driveway: vegetation adjacent to the bridge and an internally lit sign at the driveway that can block drivers’ views.

Applicant Drew Oleowski of Haley Ward (representing 100 Maine LLC) said the team met with planning and public safety staff and proposed two conditions to resolve sightline concerns: trim or remove the obstructing vegetation and, if removal is necessary, submit a replacement landscaping plan; and modify the sign so its bottom portion is composed of clear material to preserve sightlines. "We'll be working closely with public safety to make sure everyone's happy with the solution we come up with," Oleowski told the board.

Board members reviewed and amended draft findings (moving some traffic/sightline language into the vehicular circulation finding) and removed a condition referencing private sewer facilities after confirming the site ties into the city's gravity system. The board then adopted findings and conditions and granted site plan approval (vote recorded as 6‑0).

Next steps: The conditions require the applicant to secure sign approval demonstrating adequate sightlines and complete any tree trimming and replacement landscaping as needed prior to certificate of occupancy.

Actions: The board adopted findings of fact (as amended), adopted conditions (with one deletion), and granted site plan approval in separate votes, each passing unanimously.