FREEPORT
The Project Review Board approved a site plan amendment Wednesday for L.L. Bean’s new Outdoor Discovery School.
The company has to come back by February with a revised landscaping plan, board member Ralph Dean said Thursday. Meanwhile, L.L. Bean can begin construction of the building at its 17 Marietta Lane site off Lower Flying Point.
Dean said the Project Review Board conducted a site walk Wednesday with L.L. Bean officials, then conducted a lengthy meeting.
According to the town’s relevant ordinance, the landscape should be “preserved in its natural state, insofar as practical, by minimizing tree and soil removal, retaining existing vegetation where desirable, and keeping any grade changes in character with the general appearance of neighboring areas.” The ordinance further states that landscaping should be “integrated into building arrangements, topography, parking and buffering requirements.”
L.L. Bean spokesman Mac McKeever sees no obstacle with the board’s stipulation.
“This will pose no problem whatsoever,” McKeever said. “We are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that we maintain the character of the surrounding area.”
Following the site walk with company officials, the Project Review Board found that L.L. Bean’s plans meet with Section 602 of the town’s zoning ordinance.
The board has no authority regarding L.L. Bean’s use of the property, though the Town Council, Planning Board or the code-enforcement officer could weigh in on that issue.
L.L. Bean plans to build a two-story, 7,200-square-foot building in the same style as its two village stores. The Outdoor Discovery School, near Backyard Cove, will house its recreational programs, with meeting space on the top floor and showers on the first floor.
According to the Project Review Board ruling, L.L. Bean must have a pre-construction meeting with the town engineer, and obtain permits from the codesenforcement officer, in addition to other stipulations.
lgrard@timesrecord.com
¦ L.L. BEAN PLANS to build a two-story, 7,200-square-foot building in the same style as its two village stores. The Outdoor Discovery School, near Backyard Cove, will house its recreational programs, with meeting space on the top floor and showers on the first floor.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less