News
Beach renovations move ahead
By Jennifer L. Saunders
jsaunders@seacoastonline.com
September 28, 2005 YORK MAINE- The Planning Board heard updates
from applicants on several pending proposals at its meeting last
week, including plans to revitalize two Victorian-era buildings
in York Beach.
A few days later, at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on
Monday, concerns regarding the process for the historic designation
of the projects were raised.
The selectmen agreed to authorize the Historic District Commission
to work with acting Town Manager Jennie McCann to get a legal opinion
regarding the application of the town’s historic landmark
designation with a goal of assisting the York Beach revitalization
effort.
Selectman Torbert Macdonald Jr. explained that the issue is one
of conflicting ordinances in need of clarification.
Without a historic designation, however, the project to renovate
the Atlantic House could be delayed.
Among the presenters at last week’s Planning Board meeting
was architect John DeStefano, representing Don Rivers of the Atlantic
House and Harold Anderson of the Kearsarge Hotel.
Rivers and Anderson have proposed a renovation plan for the two
historic buildings, located in the York Beach Business District.
DeStefano said that, with Planning Board approval, the goal is
to have the project completed by Memorial Day in an effort not to
affect traffic in the York Beach area.
"We’re not requesting any waivers for the project ...
it will be mostly internal renovations," DeStefano said.
However, he said, there will need to be demolition and shoring
work as part of the project.
"If we can get this done while the merchants aren’t
there, it’s to everyone’s benefit. And there’s
no question the economic asset this project will have for everyone
in York Beach and York in general," he said.
Helen Rollins Lord of the York Historic District Commission also
voiced support for the potential of the plan.
"We have two wonderful new projects before us. One is the
Atlantic House at the beach and the other is the Kearsarge Hotel
at the beach," she said, adding the commission will provide
input to the Planning Board following a site walk of the property.
At the start of the Planning Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 22,
Chairman Barrie Munro updated the public on the status of plans
for the former Dexter Shoe Outlet adjacent to the Meadowbrook Plaza
on Route 1, known around town as the "Dunkin’ Donuts"
application.
Because of illness, Town Planner Steve Burns has been out of the
office for the past week, prompting the Planning Department to seek
clarification of the time table of the application from the Board
of Appeals earlier this month.
"The requirement imposed upon both the applicant and the Planning
Board is that the applicant provide the Planning Board with a plan
that is complete for the purposes of review by the 11th of October,
so we have some time yet to resolve that particular application
relative to its completeness," Munro told the public at the
Planning Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 22.
During the public input portion of the meeting, several applicants
approached the board to discuss the status of their projects. Dates
for public hearings and action on the various applications are expected
to be scheduled in the next week.
Looking south on Route 1 to a well-known local business, DeStefano
and Stonewall Kitchen Director of Facilities Jerry Lewis updated
the Planning Board on projects associated with an approved plan
for the York facility.
DeStefano explained that the owners of Stonewall Kitchen hope to
have approval for a change of use as part of the previously approved
plan for a tenant, AGA Appliances of England, that will not change
the footprint of the site for the approved warehouse.
Heading south on Route 1, the board heard from Erik Bergeron of
Sanford Institute for Savings on a plan to allow the York Fire Department
to burn down the former Mandarin Inn restaurant for training purposes.
The restaurant will be demolished as part of the bank’s plan
to locate a facility on the site at the intersection of Route 1
and Route 91.
After discussing possible abutter and traffic concerns, Bergeron
and the board agreed to schedule a time to gather more information
before taking a formal vote on the request.
In other business, the board:
# Approved a request by Joseph DeMartine for a boundary line adjustment
bringing two lots on Pine Hill Road into compliance with town zoning.
# Took preference votes on the comprehensive plan and zoning amendments
approved by the Board of Selectmen for inclusion on the November
warrant, supporting each amendment by a majority or unanimous vote
except the bus-as-a-structure issue, which seeks to define the differences
between vehicles and buildings for the purpose of property setbacks.
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