From barn to bank, comment slated (Printed Jan. 25, 2008)
By Ashley St. Michel
Staff Writer
The Kennebunk Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, Jan. 28 to hear comments about a proposed bank at Shops at Long Bank. The 3,540 square-foot bank would replace a farm house and barn on Route 1 in Kennebunk.
Portland based Dead River Properties, a subdivision company of Dead River Company, has owned the area known as the Shops at Long Bank since 2006 and will be at the meeting to present the revised plans.
Dead River Company Vice President Anne Littlefield said the need for the property came after construction for Ricetta’s Brick Oven Pizzeria began and the need for more than 50 additional parking spaces grew.
“Once we got the permit, we knew Ricetta’s was going to need 55 more spaces,” she said. “So this way not only do we get another business, but we also get additional parking without imposing on other property.”
Littlefield said the focus of the meeting is to get feedback about the proposed bank. Although there isn’t a bank currently interested in the property, Littlefield said the building will be constructed specifically for bank use.
“If a smaller company or a small doctors office wants to come in and buy the space and they pay their end, I will certainly allow them the space,” Littlefield said. “Our goal is to work with the neighbors of the property and work with and for the town.”
The physical location of the property is immediately to the north-east of the already permitted Ricetta’s which is scheduled to open in May or April according to Littlefield. Construction of Ricettas began this fall.
Kennebunk Town Planner Judy Bernstein said when Ricettas agreed to take the space more than one year ago they asked for more parking spaces. Bernstein said the town requires one parking space per four seats for any restaurant. Once the bank building is constructed it will offer parking spaces for Ricettas as well as the business that buys the property.
The property, which was formerly owned by John and Ross W. Stahl, was vacated more than three years, according to Bernstein. Littlefield said when Dead River purchased the property they had plans to develop it. She said the Stahl family now owns a farm out-of-state.
Littlefield said Dead River tried to lease the farm and barn to smaller businesses in the area when it was purchased, but had little luck. She said this was partly due to the construction of additions for a separate living area in the farm.
Bernstein said one portion of the plans that should spark debate at the meeting is the additional entrance Dead River is looking to construct. The entrance would be a few hundred feet away from the main entrance of the shops and would consist of a one-way in and one-way out style entry to the possible bank. Bernstein said the main entrance for the Shops at Long Bank would allow customers to get to the building without constructing an additional entrance.
Littlefield said Dead River met with residents of Farragut at Kennebunk in 2006 after the company bought the land. Farragut at Kennebunk is a condominium community for people older than 60 years-old. Littlefield said through various meetings with the tenants, Dead River decided the construction wouldn’t impose any traffic complications, which she said was of concern to residents.
Bernstein said one thing businesses must do if they are looking to build in Kennebunk is show a road connection to its abutters. She said since the property is already part of the Shops at Long Bank, it has the connection needed to be approved. Bernstein said she had hoped the farm house or barn could have been used in construction for a business at Long Bank.
The town works with the department of transportation’s traffic consultant and engineer Diana Morabito to determine any traffic concerns, Bernstein said.
“Once the plans are approved the next step would be to issue a traffic movement request with the department of transportation,” she said. “We have worked with Diana (Morabito) in the past. Ten years ago she worked with us for our traffic study so she has a lot of information about Route One. We will have her review the traffic conditions and comment about the flow.”
Littlefield said if anyone is interested in buying the farm and barn for relocation that is also an option. She said although the farm isn’t historic, relocating the building would be a better option than tearing it down. Since the construction of the possible bank won’t use the farm materials she said it is possible to have the farm moved.
The Jan. 28 meeting will be in room 302 of the Kennebunk Town Hall at 7 p.m. Littlefield, Bernstein, Morabito and a representative from civil engineering firm Deluca Hoffman are expected to attend the meeting.
To contact Ashley St. Michel, call 282-4337 ext. 228 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.
Staff Writer
The Kennebunk Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, Jan. 28 to hear comments about a proposed bank at Shops at Long Bank. The 3,540 square-foot bank would replace a farm house and barn on Route 1 in Kennebunk.
Portland based Dead River Properties, a subdivision company of Dead River Company, has owned the area known as the Shops at Long Bank since 2006 and will be at the meeting to present the revised plans.
Dead River Company Vice President Anne Littlefield said the need for the property came after construction for Ricetta’s Brick Oven Pizzeria began and the need for more than 50 additional parking spaces grew.
“Once we got the permit, we knew Ricetta’s was going to need 55 more spaces,” she said. “So this way not only do we get another business, but we also get additional parking without imposing on other property.”
Littlefield said the focus of the meeting is to get feedback about the proposed bank. Although there isn’t a bank currently interested in the property, Littlefield said the building will be constructed specifically for bank use.
“If a smaller company or a small doctors office wants to come in and buy the space and they pay their end, I will certainly allow them the space,” Littlefield said. “Our goal is to work with the neighbors of the property and work with and for the town.”
The physical location of the property is immediately to the north-east of the already permitted Ricetta’s which is scheduled to open in May or April according to Littlefield. Construction of Ricettas began this fall.
Kennebunk Town Planner Judy Bernstein said when Ricettas agreed to take the space more than one year ago they asked for more parking spaces. Bernstein said the town requires one parking space per four seats for any restaurant. Once the bank building is constructed it will offer parking spaces for Ricettas as well as the business that buys the property.
The property, which was formerly owned by John and Ross W. Stahl, was vacated more than three years, according to Bernstein. Littlefield said when Dead River purchased the property they had plans to develop it. She said the Stahl family now owns a farm out-of-state.
Littlefield said Dead River tried to lease the farm and barn to smaller businesses in the area when it was purchased, but had little luck. She said this was partly due to the construction of additions for a separate living area in the farm.
Bernstein said one portion of the plans that should spark debate at the meeting is the additional entrance Dead River is looking to construct. The entrance would be a few hundred feet away from the main entrance of the shops and would consist of a one-way in and one-way out style entry to the possible bank. Bernstein said the main entrance for the Shops at Long Bank would allow customers to get to the building without constructing an additional entrance.
Littlefield said Dead River met with residents of Farragut at Kennebunk in 2006 after the company bought the land. Farragut at Kennebunk is a condominium community for people older than 60 years-old. Littlefield said through various meetings with the tenants, Dead River decided the construction wouldn’t impose any traffic complications, which she said was of concern to residents.
Bernstein said one thing businesses must do if they are looking to build in Kennebunk is show a road connection to its abutters. She said since the property is already part of the Shops at Long Bank, it has the connection needed to be approved. Bernstein said she had hoped the farm house or barn could have been used in construction for a business at Long Bank.
The town works with the department of transportation’s traffic consultant and engineer Diana Morabito to determine any traffic concerns, Bernstein said.
“Once the plans are approved the next step would be to issue a traffic movement request with the department of transportation,” she said. “We have worked with Diana (Morabito) in the past. Ten years ago she worked with us for our traffic study so she has a lot of information about Route One. We will have her review the traffic conditions and comment about the flow.”
Littlefield said if anyone is interested in buying the farm and barn for relocation that is also an option. She said although the farm isn’t historic, relocating the building would be a better option than tearing it down. Since the construction of the possible bank won’t use the farm materials she said it is possible to have the farm moved.
The Jan. 28 meeting will be in room 302 of the Kennebunk Town Hall at 7 p.m. Littlefield, Bernstein, Morabito and a representative from civil engineering firm Deluca Hoffman are expected to attend the meeting.
To contact Ashley St. Michel, call 282-4337 ext. 228 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.
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