BATH

Neighbors in the South Washington Street area continue to register concerns with the city about the Plant Home’s expansion plans despite a new, smaller design.

Those concerns include East Lane traffic and turning hazards, easement issues on a leased section of land, lighting, and final specifications on the triplex units on the north side of the property.

The Plant Home’s current proposal is smaller than the original plan, which called for a new 19,000-square-foot residential building. The new plan is for a 16,000-square-foot facility with 45 units — not 48 as originally envisioned. 

The building also has been turned 90 degrees from facing Washington Street to protect neighbors’ water views.

The Plant Home’s expansion — originally tabbed at $9.2 million — has come before the Planning Board many times in the last three years. Every time, the board tables the plan until members receive more information.

Tuesday’s meeting was no different.

At issue: parking lot lighting, which is out of compliance with city rules and out of step with the International Dark Sky Association’s recommendations for minimizing ambient light. Some of the Plant Home’s current lighting fixtures shine directly into neighbors’ yards and windows.

Don Capaldo of The Plant Home told planners Tuesday he will bring the lighting into compliance by the end of the project.

Also of concern: East Lane, a 14-foot-wide road abutting the Plant Home on the northern side. If plans go forward as currently envisioned, large trucks will be allowed on East Lane at least a couple of times a day. But neighbors say trash trucks already have difficulty navigating the road without cutting across lawns.

Other residents told of near misses for people turning left into East Lane and driveways from speedy Washington Street. The voard asked Bath police to review traffic patterns in the area.
Plant Home officials say a new bus stop to be erected on city land by the Plant Home, but maintained by the city, is a “public benefit.”

But some neighbors disagree. 

“Right now, I can catch the bus right at the end of my block,” said one East Lane resident.  “Walking an additional 200 feet isn’t a public benefit for me.”

Neighbors also fear additional toilets in the new buildings could overwhelm what they say is an overtaxed sewage system. But Peter Owen, the city’s public works director, said the additional buildings would add, at peak, an additional 2 gallons per minute while the sewer system in the area can accept an additional 200 gallons per minute.

Finally, neighbors were concerned about public access to Hospital Point on the northern end of the property, and the existing trail system on the southern end. Plant Home officials have said it would provide some parking for the public to visit the Hospital Point section, and include trash containers and maintenance for public access on the northern side. 

They did not wish to provide public access to the existing trail system on the southern end, but Planning Board Vice Chairman James Hopkinson said he would like to see the same level of access local people currently enjoy. 

“There is no need to build parking spaces,” he said. “Just give the local people the right to go out there and walk their dogs and so on.”

The Plant Home agreed to provide a deed covenant allowing the public to use the property as they currently do.

“This is a permittable project,” Hopkinson said. “We need to have some issues clarified before we can sign off on this.”

The project was tabled until Aug. 20. 

If the project is approved by the Planning Board, it will go to the City Council for contract rezoning talks. Two meetings of the council will be required for final passage.