By Karen Martin

A great way to keep track of what’s happening in Scarborough is to follow the town’s Planning Board. This board is responsible for reviewing new residential, commercial, and industrial development as well as many redevelopment projects. It is charged with reviewing the projects according to the Town’s Site Plan and Subdivision Review ordinances. So, if you see something happening on a street corner near you, it’s likely been to the Planning Board for review for consistency with  town land use regulations.

While the planning board reviews both commercial and residential projects, the following list highlights some non-residential projects:

• Housing Initiatives of New England: Approved for a change of use for an existing building at 260 US Route 1 to allow professional offices on the first and second floor.
• O’s Enterprises, LLC: Approved a 6,800 sq. ft. office space for two service businesses at 6 Cummings Road.
• Market Basket: Approved for an 80,000 sq. ft. store at The Downs.
• Mixed Use Building: Approved for the town center area of the Downs with retail spaces on the first floor and residential units in upper stories.
• Commercial Office/Warehouse: Approved for a multi-phase project for 103 Mussey Road (19,800 sq. ft. manufacturing and 10,000 sq. ft. office building).
• Seltzer Properties PLA, LLC (FedEx Freight): Approved a 30,560 sq. ft. warehouse along with a 5,818 sq. ft. office and 11,705 sq. ft. maintenance shop and fueling area for 70 Holmes Road.
• MaineHealth: Approval for an 18,125 sq. ft. ambulatory surgery center and associated improvements to the parking lots.
• Shore Capital Real Estate Partners: Approved to add a 12-stall parking lot in the area between the existing structure (home to Scarborough Animal Hospital) and U.S. Route 1.
• Moody’s Collision Center: Approved for 2,205 sq. ft. expansion for office space at 33 Pleasant Hill Road.
• Landry French: Approved to remove two existing buildings and replace them with a new structure which is 522 sq. ft. larger at their headquarters at 162 Pleasant Hill Road.
• Firehouse Ventures: Approved to modify the parking lot entrance at 246 US Route 1 and add landscaping. Cars will only be able to enter from U.S. Route 1, not exit.
• Maine Mariners Practice Facility & Ice Arena: Site plan approved for 59 Innovation Way at The Downs (42,950 sq. ft. footprint) practice facility and pro shop.
• Dunstan Affordable Housing: Approved for 10 affordable housing units in two buildings at 25 Stewart Drive.
• Arby’s Restaurant:  Proposed for the parking lot for the Little Dolphin Marketplace at 183 U.S. Route 1. This project is in sketch-plan review, which is the earliest part of the review process. No decisions are made – the Planning Board and the applicant have an initial conversation to get to know the project.

Along with specific building projects, the Planning Board also reviews land use ordinance changes and many reviews, such as masterplan concepts, before a specific building is proposed.

Reviews of projects can have multiple approvals at different stages of a project.  Public comment is part of the process. Once all subdivision and site plans are approved, applicants then need to file for building permits. Throughout the construction of a project, there are staff inspections to ensure building codes are met and any conditions of approval are in place.

Not all projects are reviewed by the Planning Board. If someone is updating their building without changing the use, the site layout, or expanding the structure, they may only need building permit approvals, which are reviewed by town staff but not Planning Board approval.

If you are undertaking any type of project in town, a phone call to town staff can answer questions and set you on the path for getting the right approvals.

If you are interested in seeing the Planning Board in action, they meet on the third Monday of each month, starting at 6:30 pm at Town Hall, except as noted on the website to accommodate holidays. All meetings are open to the public and may be viewed online. Agendas are posted in advance and contain materials about each project on the agenda.

Karen Martin is Executive Director of Scarborough Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO).