WELLS — Residents on and around Stephen Eaton Lane in Wells describe their neighborhood as peaceful and tranquil. It’s home to wildlife habitat and wetlands, including two vernal pools. But, some fear their neighborhood could soon change for the worse if a proposed 42-unit residential condominium development is approved.

Since last year, the Wells Planning Board has been dealing with a proposal for a multi-family development, Haborside Village, that would include 26 duplex units, in 13 buildings, and 16 single-family condominium units. It would be located on a 19.45 acre parcel; current landowners are Robert and Marijane Blake, and Brandy Bourassa. The parcel is located off Stephen Eaton Lane via Papa Smurf Lane and Bourassa Lane and is within the Residential A and General Business District zones.

The Planning Board will hold a workshop on the project on Monday, July 16.

This proposed development would require future residents to enter and exit the subdivision via Stephen Eaton Lane, which is a dead end road, to access U.S. Route 1 and beyond. A secondary, gated access point would be on Bourassa Lane, also a dead end road, and which would empty onto Stephen Eaton Lane to gain entry to U.S. Route 1.

This worries some nearby residents.

During a telephone interview on Thursday, July 12, Bourassa Lane resident Grace Trifaro summed up the concerns of those in the neighborhood, which includes about 80 homes, who object to the proposed development.

“I’m very concerned about the loss of important wildlife habitat and wetlands as well as the congestion and the dangers with the increase of traffic on Stephen Eaton Lane and Bourassa Lane from this development,” she said.

Increased traffic is one of the main concerns of residents who say the Stephen Eaton Lane, U.S. Route 1 intersection is already difficult to maneuver.

“I am a year-round resident of Wells who has witnessed the congestion and confusion at the subject intersection for the past eleven years,” wrote Kenneth Zinitti in a letter to town officials dated June 10. “This intersection is not capable of handling the traffic loads already imposed upon it. Construction of a 42 unit subdivision on Bourassa Lane will introduce at least 60 more vehicles to the town’s roadways; all of these vehicles will have to travel through the subject intersection.”

“We can’t get out of our street as it is,” said Stephen Eaton Lane resident MaryLee Maldonis by telephone on Thursday, July 12. She said the Planning Board is ignoring town regulation, Chapter 202 on subdivisions, which ensures “the safety, health and welfare,” of residents and protection of the environment. To even consider allowing this development at such a “dangerous intersection” is “inconceivable,” she said.

A traffic study conducted by Maine Traffic Resources in Gardiner dated June 1, and prepared and paid for by the applicant, The Landings, LLC of  Leominster, Massachusetts, states that “Harborside Village will generate 24 one-way trips during the weekday AM peak hour and 30 during the PM peak hour.” The traffic study also states that, including the peak hour trips, there will be more than 200 new vehicle trips once the subdivision is completed.

Town Engineer Michael Livingston acknowledged by phone on Thursday, July 12, that traffic from Stephen Eaton Lane onto U.S. Route 1 is already a problem and the intersection is highly congested, especially in summer months with the influx of tourists. However, he said, according to the traffic study and a peer review by Gorrill Palmer, which has an office in South Portland, the number of new trips “wasn’t going to adversely affect” that intersection.

Gorrill Palmer conducted its first peer review, which was sent to Livingston on May 16, prior to the results of the Maine Traffic Resource traffic study. A summary of that review by Gorrill Palmer Project Manager Randy Dunton, indicates “significant concerns” with the intersection of Stephen Eaton Lane/Route 1.” The review states there a number of curb cuts associated with a car wash business located at the intersection. Because of this “the existing geometry impacts the safety of the intersection and the ability to safely increase the traffic volume through this intersection,” according to the review.

However, after reviewing the June 1 traffic study, Gorrill Palmer conducted another peer review, provided to the town on June 26, which downplayed earlier concerns. “We concur (with the study) that the proposed development will not significantly impact the existing levels of service,” Dunton wrote.

Trifaro said she was disappointed and disagrees with the findings of the second peer review. She claims it uses outdated information from studies done between 2002 and 2013.

Because of the increased traffic, some residents are also worried about the safety of walking in the area.

“I get to where I need to get primarily by foot,” said Rose Marie Maloney who is legally blind. She lives in Stephen Eaton Apartments, which is home mainly to senior citizens and those with physical disabilities, many of whom use canes, walkers or wheelchairs in their travels. She said she fears for her safety as well the safety of others in her building if the proposed subdivision were built and more vehicles drove through the neighborhood.

To increase safety, Livingston said the applicant would widen Stephen Eaton Lane from its current 18 foot width to 24 feet and would add a sidewalk. In addition, a crosswalk at the Stephen Eaton Lane/U.S. Route 1 intersection with a lighted, signalized sidewalk crossing would be installed. He said the Maine Department of Transportation would not allow a traffic light at the intersection.

Danger to area wetlands and wildlife from the proposed subdivision is also of concern to some neighborhood residents.

“My concern is for the environment,” Maloney said. “We have a lot of wildlife on Stephen Eaton Lane and the area where (the subdivision) is being developed.”

Livingston said while the applicant would have to file for permits from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for some of its plans, it would likely get them.

The total wetland fill of the proposed project is about 14,000 square feet, said Livingston in a July 12 email, which he said is permitted under a DEP Tier 1 permit. He said DEP permits would be needed for filling wetlands as well as building near the two vernal pools on the site. The project has the required buffer around the vernal pools, he said.

The DEP must also approve the proposed subdivision’s drainage system. Planning Department staff have concerns about the last version of drainage system submitted, Livingston said.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, of dmendros@journaltribune.com.