Board reviews preliminary plan to convert former funeral home at 29 Winter Street into 12 units; parking and trash logistics flagged

The Saco Planning Board heard a preliminary major‑subdivision/site‑plan and shoreland zoning submittal July 1 to convert the former funeral home at 29 Winter Street into 12 residential dwelling units. The applicant’s agent, Joanne Cavana, described the scope: conversion of the existing building to 12 units with parking on the site and work to locate a dumpster with sufficient vehicle access for trash pickup.

Planning staff noted technical issues to resolve before final submission: the internal drive aisle appears to narrow below the required 20‑foot width unless a proper turnaround is provided; eliminating an existing garage drive may require closure measures or a new turnaround so vehicles do not back into the street; shoreland calculations for current and proposed impervious coverage and canopy opening must be shown; the fire‑department sprinkler connection location should be called out on the plan; an engineer’s stamp on one sheet appeared illegible and must be corrected; the sanitary sewer pipe size in the plan text (listed as 8‑in VC) differs from the actual 6‑in VC pipe and needs correction; and a trash‑collection solution must be accommodated without violating setback requirements for dumpsters in the urban zone.

Staff said the applicant currently provides at least the required parking but might need one or two minor waivers at final review depending on how the drive/turnaround issues are resolved. The board and staff discussed options such as providing a turnaround, converting a grass area to pavement for circulation, or relocating a dumpster or trash enclosure near the street within setback rules.

Because this item was a preliminary submission the board offered guidance and asked the applicant to return with revised final plans addressing the technical comments; no formal vote or approval occurred for 29 Winter Street at this meeting.