Community Housing of Maine proposes 10‑unit affordable housing at 48 Waterville Road

Community Housing of Maine (CHOM) and Acorn Engineering on Wednesday presented a preliminary site plan to redevelop a vacant parcel at 48 Waterville Road into a 10‑unit affordable housing building.

"We are a nonprofit affordable housing developer…we are excited to bring 10 new units of new construction, quality, affordable housing to your community," Brie Lease, CHOM’s development director, told the committee. She said CHOM manages 87 properties statewide and expects these units to be income‑restricted at roughly 60% of area median income, but she said exact rents are "not specified" at this stage.

Nate Holt, the project civil engineer with Acorn Engineering, described the site as just under half an acre with two existing vacant multifamily buildings to be removed and replaced by a single new structure. "We are proposing a rain garden…this has been designed to collect the entire parking area and it will not only provide treatment and water quality benefits but it will also slow the peak rate of runoff," Holt said, noting the stormwater system is sized to meet town standards and reduce untreated runoff to the municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) system.

Architect Ryan Senator showed floor plans and elevations, describing a two‑story layout with two one‑bedroom units and common space on the ground floor and four units per upper floor to reach a total of 10 units. "Trying to…design kind of a New England style building with punched double hung windows…a nice entry canopy to announce the entry," he said.

The project would include 11 paved parking stalls, two 15‑foot, dark‑sky‑compliant light poles, evergreen buffers along property lines and new utilities. Board members asked whether the building would be sprinklered (presenters said yes), whether the units would be insulated for sound (the architect said between‑wall insulation and sound sheetrock are planned), and whether upper floor units would have elevator access (presenters said only the ground floor units would be fully accessible; there will be no elevator).

Members also raised code and timing issues. Presenters said the building would meet state energy code requirements and that mechanical design (including choices between heat pumps and gas) remains under development. Holt referenced state parking guidance: because of recent state statute LD247, municipalities in certain growth zones may limit multifamily parking requirements; the team said the 11‑stall plan exceeds the state minimum and reflects CHOM’s experience managing similar properties.

CHOM said it has some state and federal subsidy support for financing but that financing structures vary by project. The presenters said they hope to break ground in the fall if approvals and staff reviews proceed on schedule. The board did not take a vote; the presentation was heard as a preliminary site plan and staff will coordinate formal review and notifications.

The committee asked staff to confirm fire department review and other agency comments as part of the next submittal. The project proponents were invited to return with a full application and more detailed mechanical and permitting documentation.