BIDDEFORD — In an 8-1 vote, the City Council on Tuesday approved the design of the Main Street Sidewalk Improvement Project following an amendment to its description.

The project includes the reconstruction and expansion of sidewalks and lighting on both sides of Main Street in Biddeford between Alfred and Adams streets. It also includes the addition of 16 in-ground trees on both sides of Main Street and the installation of cobblestone-lined flush concrete crosswalks across to the roadway.

The project will be funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program, from which the city currently has $200,000 in funding. The city will receive an additional $112,000 of funding on July 1.

Approval was granted pending amendment to the project’s description, which previously included the installation of 15 large concrete planters along the street for flowers and some for trees. Disagreement about the size and shape of the planters, the types of trees that would be planted, and ultimately who would take care of the planters led to the amendment.

“Here’s the spectrum of trees that could be used, here’s the spectrum of what planters could be used,” said Councilor Marc Lessard. “There’s a lot of questions here that … there’s a huge leap of faith on this project, there’s a lot of pieces that are still gray.

“Without the detail on what we’re voting on, I’ll be voting against it. That doesn’t mean I don’t support it. The definition of what we’re voting on is too vague,” Lessard said.

Linda Waters, community development coordinator for Biddeford, defended the inclusion of planters in the design plan, saying that it would be wise to purchase a couple planters at first to see how the city reacts to them and if the city expresses opposition, the planters could be repurposed elsewhere.

Still, councilors said a maintenance plan would be necessary before approval of the planters could be given, citing concerns that watering would be too arduous a task for a volunteer task force already struggling to maintain its watering needs.

Holly Culloton, a Biddeford resident and volunteer with nonprofit organization Heart of Biddeford, spoke publicly to express concern about the addition of planters.

“Things are happening really fast in our town in development,” Culloton said. “As it stands our Public Works is unable to care for its city’s parks … they currently don’t have enough money to take care of our green spaces. How are they going to take care of our planters?”

Waters expressed that the design of the project could still change post-approval, and that the planters are not, nor should they be, the main focus of the project.

“The main focus of this project is just the sidewalks and the lighting,” Waters said. “It’s turned into a much more expansive project than I’d imagined – though much more beautiful – but the basics of the sidewalks and the lighting … will chew your funds up right there. I just want to send something to the state to see what they think. I just don’t want to hold the project up from at least getting going on the sidewalks and the lighting.”

Ultimately, the council approved the project 8-1, provided the amendment, which states the project will now encompass “reconstruction of the sidewalks, crosswalks, resetting of curbing, installation of cobblestones, lighting, and installation of in ground trees,” effectively removing the planters from the plan.

Removal of planters isn’t the only change to the project’s design from when it was first put forward in May. Previously the design called for raised curb extensions, but now flush cobblestones and pavers, installed at street grade level, will be used instead to reinforce no-parking zones.

One of the project’s most ambitious design elements includes the intersection at York and Main streets, which currently has a 60- foot crossing distance across York Street where Main Street widens considerably. Under the approved design, a sidewalk “bump out” will be constructed at the street corner, bringing the intersection to more of a “T” shape, which will shorten the crossing distance to 30 feet.

Following approval from the council, the design will now be sent to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission for final approval. According to Waters, all HUD projects must be approved by the state in order for CDBG funds to be released to ensure historic elements of the city are not lost in development.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.