Thursday, March 29, 2007
ORIGINAL PLAN
180 campground units 18 affordable homes 5 single-family homes 42 acres of public recreation area, plus riverfront access 14.2 percent density (site coverage)
REVISED PLAN110 campground units 7 affordable homes 2 single-family homes 49 acres of conserved land, with no public recreation area 9.9 percent density (site coverage)
The developer of a controversial proposal for a West Kennebunk campground has dramatically scaled back original plans in response to opposition from neighbors.
However, residents still plan to oppose the project, saying the changes don't address their core concerns.
Hissong Development Corp.'s revised proposal for Avalon Acres includes 110 "park model" campground units, seven year-round affordable homes and two single-family homes. Original plans, submitted in November, called for 184 campground units, 18 year-round affordable homes, five single-family homes, a restaurant and 42 acres of public recreation space. The new plan still includes 49 acres of undeveloped land.
Joan Tishkevich, director of marketing at Hissong, said the new plan greatly reduces the density of the project, a concern voiced by neighbors. The affordable housing was reduced and the public recreation space removed, Tishkevich said, because both elements lacked strong support.
After the Avalon Acres plan was submitted, neighbors in West Kennebunk formed a group, Kennebunk Citizens for Responsible Growth, to oppose the project.
The proposal, they say, is not consistent with the town's comprehensive plan or the rural residential zoning in the area. Campgrounds are no longer a permitted use in Kennebunk.
Hissong Development's plans would require a contract zone, which allows for uses and regulations specific to the development. Contract zones must be approved by the public.
Neighbor Erin Watkinson, a member of the opposition group, said because the scaled-down plan still requires a contract zone, it doesn't address the core concerns of area residents.
"It's kind of avoiding the issue. He still hasn't shown how this is consistent with the comprehensive plan," Watkinson said. "This type of development isn't allowed anywhere in Kennebunk."
Allowing the development, the neighbors say, would set a precedent for anyone to use contract zoning in Kennebunk to fit the needs of any project.
Tishkevich said the 99-acre parcel is well-suited to a campground with two other campgrounds nearby and direct access to the Mousam River. Neighbors have said they would support a residential subdivision, which is permitted in the rural residential zone.
"There are enough subdivisions right now, we felt, in that part of town," Tishkevich said.
Hissong's revised plans came after a lengthy public hearing two weeks ago. Bill Walsh, another neighbor, said developer Ted Hissong offered to meet with neighbors last week to discuss possible revisions.
Walsh said the neighbors told Hissong they didn't want to meet if the discussion was still going to be about a campground, and no meeting was scheduled.
"People understood (when campgrounds were excluded in town) that there was a lot of land that could be developed in West Kennebunk," Walsh said.
"He's using the contract zone to get a campground put in."
Kennebunk's planning board will hold a workshop on the new Avalon Acres plan at the end of April.
Before the meeting, Hissong will be required to develop a rough plan for a single-family subdivision to be used as a comparison to the campground proposal. "(Planning board members) need to see that this is a better use than what is allowed under conventional zoning," said the town planner, Judy Bernstein.
Staff Writer Anne Gleason can be contacted at 282-8229 or at:
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In my read of this story - without knowing all the details - it wouldn't appear to meet the requirments for a contract zone which are set by the State of Maine.
In my experience EVERYONE wants to maintain the full rights to develop land as THEY see fit, right up until someone NEXT to them wants to open a gravel pit, or a daycare, or erect a cell tower. Then they are the first to HOWL, the first to ORGANIZE and the first to CRY LIKE BABIES.report abuse
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