Members of the Planning Board unanimously approved the site plan and subdivision plan Tuesday submitted by Kennebec Landing LLC proposing to build 15 apartments in the old hospital at 9 Park St.

The Planning Board decision came following its July 15 meeting where it determined the applications were incomplete and, pending more information, tabled both site plan and final developmental subdivision plan agenda items.

Bob Smith of Kennebec Landing owns the former hospital, now home to the Midcoast Center for Higher Education, which recently has been losing tenants. The last educational entity will soon be moving to Brunswick Landing.

Many members of the Park Street neighborhood attended the meeting last week, asking questions about how many and what kind of units can go in the building. They also wanted to know if commercial uses can go in there if the residential use maximum of 30 dwelling units is built in a future phase. They asked about impacts on sewer and water, parking and traffic as well, and many complained about water and flooding issues due to storm water runoff onto their properties in this area.

Many returned Tuesday night and said they are afraid the project will change the character of the neighborhood.

Additional information was submitted on behalf of Kennebec Landing, mainly looking at worst case scenarios, and what the sewer, parking and traffic impact reductions would be. Board members commented that the new information confirmed that there will be reductions in parking, traffic, water use and sewer flows, in compliance with codes.

City Planner Andrew Deci said the code enforcement officer has reviewed the proposed plans and said the developer’s architecture must revise plans to form dwelling units that subscribe to the city codes and have a kitchen for each functionally independent dwelling unit.

Anne Mosher, who has lived on Winship Street for 47 years, said she has watched many changes in the recent past. It was steady and stable while the building at 9 Park St. was used as a hospital and the neighborhood knew what to expect. She’s watched changes to a rental building next to her after it became subsidized housing and “it’s been a major adjustment.”

Complexes of this magnitude are often isolated, while neighbors have been told these units will be market rate rental apartments and not subsidized housing.

“I fear what’s to happen,” Mosher said, acknowledging her thought may sound prejudiced. “That’s what I fear: People who have no real respect for property because they’re renters, they bring in pets who are forbidden, they smoke where they’re not supposed to…”

“I just think that this complex is too large for our neighborhood,” she added.

Belinda Pillow of Park Street said there are many renters, subsidized or not, who can wreak havoc with property and the neighborhood. If council and planning board members “thought about what would you want in your neighborhood, you would probably be concerned too,” she said. “I understand that it’s not going to change what’s happening tonight but I think going forward, there are things to look at closely in what might be allowed there in the future.”

“We’re are all very disheartened,” Pillow added.

After the meeting, Smith said he has tried to relieve concerned neighbors of their anxieties, and won’t be putting in subsidized housing and “it’s going to be a nice project.”

One resident alleged Smith hadn’t ruled out subsidized housing. To that, Smith stated, “I’m not putting it in. Period.”

Once he finalizes design with the architect, he’ll apply for a building permit. Asked when he will have apartments available for rent he said, “not soon enough.”

Following the approvals Tuesday, “There’s a road I can travel down now, which is important.”

Smith said his office is located in the 9 Park St. building if people have issues or concerns to be addressed.

dmoore@timesrecord.com