ALFRED — The state will build a new courthouse, consolidating district and superior courts, on Elm Street ( U.S. Route 1) in Biddeford. An 18-member selection commission approved the location late Friday afternoon.

Citing its accessibility and visibility, the York County Courthouse Site Selection Commission chose a 12-acre site in the 500 block of Elm St., owned by the city of Biddeford. The land, a portion of the so-called Pate property and priced at $650,000, is between the Five Points intersection and the Biddeford connector from Route 111.

Commission member Sherry Edwards, of Caring Unlimited the county’s domestic violence resource center, pointed out that 58 percent of protection from abuse orders originate in Biddeford. She said people who live in rural areas already have cars, but many in Biddeford and Saco rely on public transit.

“Access would be diminished,” for those folks, she said, if the consolidated court were in Alfred.

The decision came in two parts and ends the commission’s work. About 28 properties were reviewed, but the number was soon whittled down to three —  one adjacent to York County Jail on county-owned land in Alfred and two Biddeford sites — the Elm Street/U.S. Route 1 location and another on Barra Road in the Robert Dodge Business Park off Alfred Road/Route 111. 

The county-owned Alfred site was free, but some pointed out that because some utilities aren’t available, costs would be incurred. The Barra Road site was $580,000.

The first vote was 12-6 for Biddeford over Alfred. The second vote, for the Elm Street/ U.S. Route 1 location over Barra Road quickly became unanimous when enough hands were raised to signal a majority.

Sen. Linda Valentino, the author of the bill that provides $65 million for the project, motioned to recommend that the Maine Judicial Branch work with York County Commissioners and the York County District Attorney to offer office space to the DA in the new court building at free or substantially reduced cost. That vote was also unanimous.

Next steps include land acquisition, hiring of architects and so on. There is no estimate when ground would be broken, but when the bill was approved in the spring, construction was estimated to begin 2017, with a projected 2020 opening for the 12-courtroom, 133,000-square-foot facility.

While the Biddeford, Springvale and York district courts and the superior court will close when the new courthouse opens in Biddeford, county government departments, including the county probate court, will remain in Alfred.

Proximity to the district attorney’s office and jail were reasons the county government preferred the Alfred location. County officials said any location away from the jail would incur costs for inmate transport and security, and the district attorney’s office, increasing budgets and ultimately costing county taxpayers more.

The York County District Attorney and the assistant district attorneys are state employees; their support staff are county employees. In Alfred, the district attorney’s office is in the courthouse.

“From a criminal justice perspective, proximity to the district attorney’s office is number one, wherever it ends up,” said York County District Attorney Kathryn Slattery prior to the vote. She favored an Alfred location, as did Sheriff Bill King, participating by phone and Skype from Arizona, and four other commission members.

But the others, including the commission chairman, Maine Supreme Court Justice Thomas Humphrey, who practiced law and dispensed justice as a judge in all of the York County courts, cast his vote for Biddeford.

“I have strong emotional ties to this place,” he said of the York County Court House. But citing caseloads, he said he needed to consider the “center of gravity,” and that, he said, is in Biddeford. 

Humphrey, looking to the Elm Street/U.S. Route 1 location, said a court building has to have a presence that generates respect for the law.

Attorney Amy Fairfield said she came into table favoring the Alfred site, but in the end, agreed with Rep. Anne Marie Mastraccio, who said placing a multi-story, 133,000-square-foot building on a septic system would be irresponsible — the Alfred location does not offer an on-site connection to a municipal sewer system.

York County Superior Court Justice Wayne Douglas said he recognized concerns about access for people in western York County, but said his calculations show just 15 miles would be added to the trip.

While many liked the Barra Road site in Biddeford, they noted security and access concerns with just one way in and out, and the lack of visibility.

Attorney John Webb, also a member of the commission, said clients need access to the courthouse.

“In the end, it’s about the citizens,” Webb said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.