BRUNSWICK

Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority needs to subdivide almost 400 acres of the former navy base before it can market lots to prospective tenants.

Before Brunswick Planning Board members can issue approval, they have to decide which parts of the agency’s subdivision request meet local codes and which parts don’t.

While under control of the U.S. Navy, the property was unaffected by municipal and state codes and standards. Now that it has been returned to MRRA for eventual return to the town, the property must be defined by lot lines and development must meet municipal rules.

The distinction has proved complicated and, at times, difficult in MRRA’s efforts to attract tenants.

“We don’t want to have special treatment, but redevelopment of this property does pose some unique planning challenges,” MRRA Executive Director Steve Levesque said.

After a workshop last week, MRRA officials planned to resubmit the application during the Planning Board’s meeting tonight. However, according to planning department staffers, the application has been delayed until the board’s Feb. 26 meeting.

Planning Board member Steve Walker said not enough field study had been done to satisfy town rules.

“This is a pretty significant piece of land in terms of not only the wildlife habitat, but the underlying aquifer, an urban-impaired stream and a lot of land that drains down into a very economically important clam flat,” he said.

jtleonard@timesrecord.com