SACO — The Ecology School has received an extension on the contract zone that will permit the school to build its new facility on Simpson Road. 

The Ecology School, which provides residential and day ecological education programs, currently operates on space it’s rented from the Ferry Beach association since 1999.

On Feb. 1, 2016, the school was granted a contract zone by the city to allow it to build a facility at the 105-acre former Riverbend Farm at 184 Simpson Road, where it plans to relocate.

The terms of the contract zone allows the school to add two dormitories and a dining hall to the property, which currently has a farm house built in 1794 and agricultural structures. 

The school came back to the city again for an extension of the contract zone, which was set to expire on Feb. 1, 2018 because a site plan review for the project had not yet been granted by the Planning Board. 

Last year, a conservation easement on the property was transferred from the Saco Valley Land Trust to the Maine Farmland Trust and the school closed the sale for the property. 

The City Council voted Monday night to approve the extension, with updates to reflect the new easement and other amendments. 

One amendment, proposed by Councilor Nathan Johnston, adds that the cemetery on the property, just like other buildings there, be maintained and preserved.

Another amendment approved, which was also proposed by Johnston, adds public access to a walking trail along Stackpole Creek. 

There was discussion of adding a requirement that the school participate in a PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes program, but it was voted down. 

Councilor Alan Minthorn said he thought the city should come up with a uniform PILOT program that all nonprofits in the city would have to agree to. 

Councilor William Doyle said he thought the Ecology School should not have to participate in a PILOT program, as part of the approval for the contract zone commits the school to providing educational programs to Saco students.

“They already provide a service to the community and we shouldn’t be adding an additional PILOT on top of that,” he said. 

The original contract zone in 2016 received opposition from some neighbors of the farm who thought the proposed school would not fit in with the rural landscape of Simpson Road. Locals have also voiced opposition in recent public meetings regarding the extension. 

Councilor Marshall Archer, representing Ward 1, where Simpson Road is located, said he had heard many good arguments both for and against the contract zone. 

He said many of his constituents may not be happy with him, but he was going to vote in favor of the extension of an already existing contract zone, which was different from the original contract zone.

“I must look at fairness and due process,” he said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.