Planning board approves Peer to Peer site plan for recovery center at 140 Promiscott

The Millinocket Planning Board approved a site-plan application from Peer to Peer to establish a recovery community center at 140 Promiscott, moving the project forward to procurement and renovation planning.

Kelsey Putnam, who identified herself as executive director of Peer to Peer, told the board the facility’s main floor will house a recovery center with meeting rooms, offices, a kitchen and storage, while the second floor would be reserved for office space or community partners. Putnam said the organization received a 2023 HUD grant intended for acquisition worth $500,000 and that an environmental review must be completed before the purchase is finalized.

The approval came after detailed questioning from planning staff and board members about parking, accessibility and environmental findings. Karen, introduced by the applicant as the organization’s chief financial officer, said the group has budgeted about $160,000 for renovations and that a Phase I environmental assessment by Maine DEP identified the possible presence of an underground fuel tank at the rear addition that may require mitigation.

Planning staff reminded the board that the town’s site-plan code requires one parking space per full-time employee and that town-owned on-street spaces generally cannot be counted toward an applicant’s required parking. Putnam said the purchase-and-sale includes a separate adjacent parcel the organization plans to use for staff parking and to park a Peer to Peer vehicle; she and staff estimated the applicant could create roughly eight to 10 pocket spaces along the side parcel if needed.

On accessibility, Putnam said a side addition door could be modified to provide accessible entry and that at least one downstairs restroom appeared to meet ADA requirements; staff said they would re-verify bathroom and sidewalk accessibility as part of the permitting process.

Putnam said the center will primarily operate during weekday business hours with occasional evening or weekend community events and emphasized that Peer to Peer will not provide clinical services on-site but will host certified recovery coaches and peer-support activities open to anyone.

A resident during public comment asked whether the center would provide a supervised smoking area and whether patrons would loiter on Main Street. Putnam said the plan includes an outdoor smoking area with proper receptacles and that staff expect respectful behavior.

After discussion, a motion to accept the site plan was made and seconded and the board carried the motion; the board then invited the applicant to participate in future procurement- and contractor-selection meetings related to the HUD-funded renovations. Staff said the environmental findings and procurement process will inform next steps before the acquisition closes and renovations begin.

The planning board also noted upcoming agenda items, including other site-plan applications and a forthcoming revised population section of the town’s comprehensive plan.