Opposition is mounting against South Portland Housing Authority’s proposed 96-unit senior and workforce housing development on Route 1 in Scarborough at the location of the former site of the Southern Maine Indoor Flea Market.

The Marshview Apartments would consist of a four-story building containing 60 affordable units for ages 55 and older, plus three buildings with 12 workforce housing units each. A 114-space parking lot, playground and walking trails are also in the plans.

Located on Route 1 near the Payne Road intersection, the proposal calls for a right-turn-only exit and a right-turn-only entrance on and off Route 1, providing no access to the southbound side of the road. That was a concern when the development was originally proposed last year and, after SPHA presented its formal site plan to the Scarborough Planning Board on Tuesday, a number of community members voiced that concern again, including abutters.

Tracey St. John, owner of Mend Health & Wellness, is concerned that, rather than taking alternate routes, those exiting the property looking to go southbound on Route 1 will find it quicker to do so by turning into a nearby commercial property and then turning left.

Her business’s parking lot is the first opportunity tenants will have to make that legal left turn southbound.

“If they do turn right (out of the development), they’re going to end up going into my semi-circle parking lot and make that turn,” said Tracey St. John, owner of Mend Health & Wellness, located just north of the proposed development. “We have elderly people walk into our office, we have patients that are as young as four years old coming into our office.”

Dennis Masse, owner of the home just south of the development, took issue with the routes some drivers may have to take to return home, likely involving already congested corridors.

“Imagine someone trying to get back into this property from the town center. There’s no real logical, legal way to do it,” Masse said. “You have to go down Haigis Parkway, turn down Payne Road, get to the Payne Road intersection with Route 1 and take a left back to the property. Or, you need to cut down Milliken Road to Payne Road.”

Others took issue with the proposal’s environmental impact, with wetlands and streams on the property and its close proximity to the Scarborough Marsh.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the marsh, our beautiful Scarborough Marsh, and here’s another 96 units on the edge of the marsh,” said resident Richard Hayes.

Some residents said they were opposed to other specific aspects of the proposal, such as the 60-unit building’s height, while others took issue with potential tax breaks and tax increment financing funding for the project.

Mary Pelkey said she lived in Scarborough in the 1980s and 1990s before moving away. She recently moved back and supports more affordable senior housing in town.

“It took me two years to get an apartment in senior housing. It’s a one-bedroom apartment and it’s not affordable for some,” Pelkey said. “I think about the seniors who will soon be getting rid of their homes, as I did, because of the high cost of fuel, the high taxes and also the needed repairs they can no longer do as they get older — and some people can’t afford to pay for that.”

Ben Mohney, development officer at the Housing Authority, said the types of housing they’re offering are beneficial to Scarborough.

A single income of $54,000 to $75,000 per year would qualify for the workforce housing.

“We’re talking about the meat and potatoes of the working class here in Scarborough,” Mohney said.

Meanwhile, people over 55 and making less than $54,000 per year would qualify for the 60 senior units.

“If you’re living off just social security and maybe a small pension, that would be you,” Mohney said.

Planning Board members acknowledged SPHA’s intent to create more affordable housing in the region and noted Jocelyn Place, a 60-unit senior development they built in Scarborough, as an example of the good work they do.

However, they echoed residents’ concerns.

“I’m concerned about the height, I’m concerned about the right turn in and right turn out, I’m worried about the size of this project given some of the constraints that are on that parcel,” said Rick Meinking, chair of the board. “This is a monster of a piece to absorb in a very congested area now, but I’m keeping my mind open.”

Vice Chair Rachel Hendrickson was conflicted.

“It’s so tough to think about what’s really a wonderful concept and a well-laid-out design, in the wrong place,” she said. “It’s not something, at this point, that I could vote for.”

Planning Board member Tyler Davis took issue with the potential environmental hazards.

“One point I’m not really sold on is the drainage control (and) stormwater management,” he said. “Especially given the development’s proximity to the marsh, especially at the northeast corner of the development, where there are wetland impacts.”

Sam Labelle of Acorn Engineering said they believe they are going “above and beyond” what is required from an environmental standpoint.

“We really feel like we went above and beyond the stormwater and the marsh protection than what was required,” Labelle told the board. “Yes, there are wetland impacts, but we’re trying to overcompensate (for) those impacts.”

Despite the flaws the community and planning board cited in SPHA’s plan, board members said they hope the Housing Authority comes back before them. Some said they’d be more willing to support the project if it were just the affordable senior housing units, which would also help mitigate some concerns, such as size and environmental impacts.

“Get the buy-in that you need,” Meinking said. “That’s the best I can say at this point.”