At a Jan. 18 regularly scheduled meeting, the Waldoboro Planning Board met at the Waldoboro Town Office to hear hear plans for a proposed solar array for Manktown Road, and a new medical office to be operated under MaineHealth.

Solar Array

ReVision Energy, Inc., had submitted a pre-application for a new ground mount solar array at 489 Manktown Road. Alex Robert-Pierel represented ReVision Energy at the Jan. 18 Planning Board meeting to receive comments and questions.

The proposed array would cover 4.25 acres of currently wooded land 525 feet east of Manktown Road and connect to the nearby Central Maine Power substation.

If approved, it would be surrounded by agricultural style fencing, which Robert-Pierel described as an, “open square grid that small animals can go through.”

“If that schedule holds, where the majority of the work occurs during summer, by fall it should be down to the smaller site crews,” said Roberts-Pierel, about expected traffic impacts for a location close to Medomak Valley High and Middle schools.

ReVision Energy intends to lease the property from the resident landowner for 25 years, which is the warranty period and expected lifetime of the panels.

As a privately owned project, Waldoboro residents would not necessarily see any direct benefits from the project. Central Maine Power customers, “buy an ownership in the farm to get credit on their [CMP] bills,” said Roberts-Pierel. Those credits are set by Maine’s net energy billing program rules. Learn more about Revision Energy’s Community Solar Program on their website.

Roberts-Pierel said ReVision intends to own the project, but that is, “not finalized.”

Of the approximately 12 similarly-sized projects they have built in Maine, ReVision owns “a little more than half,” while the others are owned by other private companies, he said.

Citizens asked questions in person and online through the live video feed on YouTube. The video can be watched on YouTube.

The project is to be behind a tree line. In that rural area, Revision Energy does not expect a big impact on local property values, said Roberts-Pierel.

The panels are designed to absorb as much light as possible, leading to little glare, Roberts-Pierel said. 

This location is the property owner’s primary residence; limiting public view of the project has been a “primary sighting goal,” said Roberts-Pierel.

Roberts-Pierel thanked everyone for their feedback and made notes to discuss with the relevant ReVision Energy departments to ensure the application has all the requested information in the official plan application. 

New medical office

MaineHealth’s Mike Gagnon and Landscape Architect Henry Hess, of Sebago Technics, addressed Waldoboro’s Planning Board and citizens in the second pre-application discussion Jan. 18.

MaineHealth seeks to combine 126 and 130 Depot Street to build a new 16,00 square foot primary care medical office building. The site hosts the former Fieldcrest Manor Retirement and Nursing Home, which closed in 2008.

Planning Board Chair Brendan McGuirl recused himself from the discussion; he is a tenant of 130 Depot Street.

Planning Board member John Kosnow said that he is an employee of MaineHealth, but he said his employment is unrelated to this project. 

Waldoboro Planning and Development Director Max Johnstone pointed out this was an informational meeting and the Planning Board would not make any decisions. Vice Chair Boardman said she was fine with Kosnow not recusing himself.

If approved, the new facility would feature a patient drop-off area, an employee “outdoor amenity space,” and 130 parking spaces. A stormwater collection pond would be built to offset the over 2.5 acres of new impervious surface area.

East of the building, the public is to eventually have access to the open land stretching to the Medomak River. Hess said it is currently MaineHealth’s goal to provide a small trail from the parking area to the river, but after that it would be up to the town to build a formal trail and/or boat launch.

West of the building, between the parking area and Depot Street, approximately 1/3 of an acre a small area has been set aside. Hess said this space is for a potential community building. Johnstone said the Town’s use of that space will be handled separately from this application.

“This location was chosen following a large site selection process, looking at a number of sites in town, working closely with [Waldoboro Town] staff,” said Hess.

Gagnon said the building is replace two primary care offices currently in Waldoboro.

Kosnow asked if the applicants were “ready” for the volume of traffic before adding, “you can plan for whatever, but parking is a big, big problem.”

Gagnon said MaineHealth is, “pretty comfortable with the [parking lot] size and access.”

Hess said the current plan includes “futureproofing" by including parking spaces beyond what is required by the town’s ordinance.

Vice Chair Barbara Boardman expressed concern about new light pollution in an area behind residences.

“All lighting will be Dark-Sky compliant,” said Hess, who explained as an office building, light would be minimal in the evening hours, essentially what is necessary for safety.

One project abutter submitted written comments, read by Planning Board member Erik Stark.

The abutter asked why access road is not on the north side of the property; as designed, vehicle headlights will be pointed in the back of the homes.

Hess said the current plan follows the existing drive aisle and a more gentle incline.

“Crossing Route 1 on Depot Street is a nightmare,” said Stark.

He agreed with comments in the abutter’s letter to the effect that Waldoboro would need to put a traffic light at the intersection. Waldoboro Planning and Development Director Max Johnstone said he is trying to work with Maine DOT, “about that.”

Planning Board members and public commenters discussed possible uses for the donated space near Depot Street. Johnstone said an official discussion to determine the voters’ will would happen soon. Waldoboro has received a grant which may help fund building a community center, but funds must be allocated by 2025 and spent by 2030.

MaineHealth plans to begin construction fall 2024, pending all approvals and site preparation. 

The next Waldoboro Planning Board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Waldoboro Town Office, 1600 Atlantic Highway, Waldoboro.

View agendas, approved minutes, and applications at the town’s website, waldboromaine.org.