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Planning Board approves 83 Jenkins Road preliminary subdivision after granting dead‑end‑street waiver
Summary
The Planning Board voted 4–1 to grant a waiver letting a new subdivision extend past the city’s 1,000‑foot dead‑end limit to cross Goose Fairbrook, and then approved preliminary subdivision and site plan for 83 Jenkins Road with conditions and findings adopted as amended.
The Planning Board voted to approve preliminary subdivision and site plan for 83 Jenkins Road after granting the applicant a waiver to extend a dead‑end street beyond the city’s 1,000‑foot limit.
The applicant told the board the project has completed key technical reviews: an ability‑to‑serve letter from the resource‑recovery/wastewater division, wetland sign‑off, peer‑review responses for landscaping and lighting, and a geotechnical report used to finalize footings and update the project cost estimate. Staff said those materials will be submitted to Public Works once final signatures are complete.
The board spent substantial time on a requested waiver to exceed the 1,000‑foot dead‑end standard by roughly 176 feet so the new roadway can cross Goose Fairbrook. Planning staff noted the proposal includes a 50‑foot future right‑of‑way to City of Saco property intended to allow future connectivity. Joyce (board member) moved to grant the waiver and Chris seconded; the motion carried 4–1, with Jeff casting the lone no vote. Jeff argued repeatedly that the city should tighten approval of long dead‑end streets because of long‑term maintenance and public‑safety costs.
After the waiver vote, staff revised the findings of fact to reflect the board’s action. The board adopted the findings as amended and then adopted conditions of approval; both votes were recorded in the meeting minutes. In the final motion to approve preliminary subdivision and site plan, the board again voted 4–1.
The applicant told the board that Army Corps restrictions limit tree clearing until Oct. 1 and that the stormwater permit requires a pre‑construction meeting within three years for the permit to remain valid. The applicant said they plan to submit a final package to Public Works after the board’s actions this evening.
The approval is preliminary; the applicant must complete final subdivision/site‑plan steps, satisfy the conditions of approval, and obtain remaining agency approvals before construction. The board’s vote included conditions requiring the applicant to address outstanding DPW comments on stormwater and other technical matters.
