WESTBROOK – In response to a petition that seeks to repeal a recent zone change on land between Stroudwater Street and the Westbrook Arterial, the Westbrook Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, May 6.

Last month, Westbrook resident Jason Snyder, who had once owned but lost the 60-acre parcel to bankruptcy, collected the necessary 1,216 signatures for a petition that asks voters to decide if the land should revert back to Snyder’s “Stroudwater Place” contract zone, which would have provided for an ambitious retail project that never eventually got off the ground.

In February, following recommendations from the Planning Board and city officials, the City Council approved a zone change requested by Portland developer J.B. Brown & Sons, which purchased the property after the successful vote.

J.B. Brown is planning a 15-acre residential zone and 45-acre commercial zone for separate developments that could include housing lots, a hotel and a housing complex.

Because state law requires that any change to the city’s comprehensive plan face a public hearing, the Planning Board was obligated to the set the date. However, the City Council must also hold a public hearing for the citizen’s initiative, which will be scheduled on Monday, April 7.

City attorney Natalie Burns reviewed the petition with the Planning Board Tuesday, citing the complexity of the issue. Burns said that state law allows for a zoning amendment to be initiated through a petition, as well as a citizen’s initiative and referendum ordinance.

However, Burns said that it is still unclear in state law whether a municipal referendum can force a specific contract zone on an unwilling landowner.

“There is a substantial legal question about that and I suspect there will be discussion on the City Council level,” she said.

Vincent Veroneau, the president of J.B. Brown, has said he has no interest in developing the Stroudwater Place contract zone, which he deems economically and environmentally unfeasible.