A proposed senior housing project is back before the Planning Board tonight.
The Planning Board reviewed a sketch plan June 4 from Seacoast Management Company to purchase and tear down the former Amenity Manor nursing home at 29 Elm St., and replace it with 32 to 36 apartments for senior citizens.
The River Landing Senior Community would be two and a half stories with an 11,000-square-foot building — half the size of the current footprint.
To win approval, the project will be reviewed at public hearings. A preliminary subdivision application requires both a preliminary and then final approval. And a Shoreland Zoning Application must be approved for work within a Stream Protection
District.
Town Planner Rich Roedner said the building, as proposed, has a setback of 20 feet. The applicant had been thinking about trying to move the project closer to Elm Street, but the town is resisting that effort.
Roedner said the applicant may argue the average setback of existing structures is less than 20 feet along Elm Street, and there is a provision in the town’s ordinance that allows someone to use the average setback rather then the required setback.
New architectural plans show several porches on the new building, which would bring the structure closer to Elm Street.
Developers are seeking a tax increment financing deal from Topsham that would rebate half of all property taxes to the developer for 17 years — anticipating two years of construction time and 15 years of operation.
The project also would be funded with a Low Income Housing Tax Credit from Maine State Housing Authority.
In other business, planners will hold a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the zoning code to allow light manufacturing as a conditional use in the BP2 District, with restrictions on outside activities.
This would allow for Maine Harvest Co., to operate a food aggregation and processing facility at the former commissary at Topsham Commerce Park.
The Planning Board also will continue a public hearing on a site plan application submitted by FCM LLC of Topsham for Coastal Metal Fabrication, 120 Old Lisbon Road.
Roedner said FMC LLC bought the Coastal Metal lot and is looking to build a new road off Route 196 to access the rest of the property. FMC also wants to build a parking and storage area behind Coastal Metal Fab for trucks utilizing Grimmel’s facility in Pejepscot Village opposite the railroad tracks.
The board could vote on those projects tonight.
A public hearing is also scheduled for a blasting permit application submitted by Harry C. Crooker and Sons as part of the construction of Highland Green units off Red Maple Drive.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, located at 100 Main St.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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