There was a large public turnout at a Bath Planning Board meeting on Tuesday night as citizens came out to express their thoughts on JHR Development of Maine’s proposal to pursue a five-building condominium complex project at 133 Commercial St. in Bath, a historic area also known as the “Coal Pocket.”

President Hilary Rockett of JHR Development, who has been involved with projects like the Brunswick Station and the Brunswick Hotel and Tavern, said after seeing the surrounding area of the land and its potential use, the “highest and best use for the property” was to pursue a residential project on Commercial Street, rather than retail.

Neighboring residents were mostly concerned that the condos would block the current viewshed of the Kennebec River, as the company would be constructing five buildings that would sit across the street from several residential homes.

Bath resident Connie Burt suggested redesigning the fourth and fifth condo buildings so that it would retain the viewshed for residents and other citizens.

“The aesthetic value is intangible,” Burt said. “Once this view is eliminated, it can never be restored. And I really think that would be a sad legacy for current and future generations.”

Bill King also voiced his concern over the mass and proportion of the condos compared to the neighboring homes, saying “the relative proportion should match the surrounding properties, not torpedo it.”

The condos would be about 35-37 feet high, which ends up being slightly shorter than some of the residential houses in the neighborhood, according to board member John Sunderland.

However, other business owners and residents hoped that the condos would bring in more residents and business to Bath, benefitting the overall community.

Elena Vandervoort hoped that the condos plans would be approved, in light of other projects that have failed in the past.

“I’ve watched over the past 20 years, Bath comes so close to exciting developments, and somehow it’s always fallen apart,” she said. “I hope that the issues of size and viewsheds can be resolved, but this is a component of our remarkable city, which has always had a broad range of socio-economic levels. This is one component that we so desperately need, and that is houses or units where people who are tired of maintaining their large homes can stay here.”

Gayle Hunt, Main Street Bath president and owner of Ornaments Home and Garden, located on Front Street, also agreed, saying that local businesses would greatly benefit from the project.

“We need more people walking to the businesses in downtown Bath,” she said. “We need both service businesses and retail stores — we need people here yearround.”

Although the blocked viewshed did not hinder the application’s approval, board member Andrew Omo suggested that the city arborist be contacted about several landscape issues regarding the buildings, so that it would better accommodate the view of the river.

After several outlined conditions, such as construction times and other details on the final site plans, Vice Chairman James Hopkinson proposed to pass the company’s site plan, subdivision and historic district approval request, which was passed by the board.

El on Wheels LLC, owners of the El Camino Cantina, a Mexican restaurant in Brunswick, also requested a historic district approval from the the board for the development of the purchased 244 Front St. property, where the existing structure will be converted into a restaurant called Salt Pine Social.

David Matero of David Matero Architecture in Bath was present to speak to the planning board members about the structural aspects of the building, which includes aluminum windows, gas lanterns, among other site work details.

“It’s in a unique position in the sense that it’s at the end of a C1 commercial zone on Front Street and the beginning of a residential district. And this transition is how we approached the design of this building,” he said.

Halcyon Blake, owner of Halcyon Yarn in Bath, was the only one who provided public comment, but had only positive things to say about the new restaurant’s arrival.

“This is going to be such an addition,” Blake said. “This is something that will draw people to our town. As a merchant downtown, that’s something we need, and we need it on an all year basis, and restaurants can help provide that.”

In the end, the request was approved by the board.

dkim@timesrecord.com