BATH – The Plant Home received three critical votes to move forward in the process toward becoming a reality on Tuesday night. 

The Planning Board took three separate votes; the first on the site plan, the second on the Developmental Subdivision review, and the third a recommendation to allow contract rezoning.  Contract rezoning must be done by the City Council.   All passed unanimously.

Clarification of a few points brought up at the last meeting, which occurred on August 6, included issues brought up by abutters on East Lane on the issues of drainage, potential tree damage, and use of the small street as both an access road for construction vehicles as well as an access road for deliveries, trash removal, and other uses.   The road access issues were reduced, though not eliminated, by time/day restrictions on the use of East Lane by construction traffic.  Other issues that had been agreed to in the last meeting were also written in as restrictions in the final document, including questions about dark sky and city code compliant lighting.  Access to the public was created by an easement that will now favor the south end, where there are already walking trails.

Other issues that had been raised, about the sight limits on Washington Street as it approaches East Lane, were considered by the city prior to this meeting, but were not considered problems, as there have been no accidents at the intersection. 

The proposed drainage system, too, was deemed to be adequate for the expanded uses at the Plant Home.  However, as a condition of occupancy, city staff will inspect the new drainage system.

The issue of tree removal was addressed by City Arborist Tom Hoerth, who pointed out that the plan had changed and the tree protection sections were not consistent.  As a consequence, a condition was written into the approval that a tree protection plan will include Hoerth and other city staff working with the contractor to minimize tree loss during the building process.

The easement language and the lease agreements for land the Plant Home does not own will have to be approved by the City Solicitor prior to construction. 

From here, the Plant Home project moves to the City Council.  There will be two readings of the Plant Home contract rezoning plan, at the City Council meetings in October and November.  If approved, the contract rezoning goes into effect 21 days from the November Council meeting. 

Don Capaldo, of the Plant Home, said that he expects, given the time frame, that construction will begin in early spring.  The plan is to complete all construction within a year.