S. Portland OKs changes to hotel property
A project to develop the site will include significant improvements to stormwater management.
By MELANIE CREAMER, Staff Writer
October 29, 2009
A developer won approval from the South Portland Planning Board on Tuesday to redevelop the Wyndham Hotel property on Maine Mall Road, across from the mall's main entrance.
The project calls for four commercial buildings and a $1.25 million investment in stormwater management to reduce pollution in the Long Creek watershed.
The developer, VanEastland LLC, owns the hotel, which is on about 10 acres. Its circular parking lot will be reconfigured to fit the new facilities, including a restaurant, a small bank or fast-food business, and two stores.
The developer could not be reached for comment.
As part of the project, the developer plans to install underground holding chambers and filtering systems for stormwater, to keep pollutants out of the Long Creek watershed.
The project received approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
"It will significantly improve stormwater treatment, compared to now, where there is no treatment," said Tex Haeuser, the city's planning and development director.
The project will be completed in two phases. First, the developer will build the restaurant and parking spaces on the north side of the hotel. Then, the remaining parking spaces will be reconfigured and the three other lots will be prepared for construction.
Haeuser said the project will affect some wetlands and wetland buffers. The developer agreed to pay the city $75,000 in compensation, and an additional $26,800 for not meeting requirements of city stormwater and wetlands ordinances.
Haeuser said the money will be put in a fund overseen by the South Portland Conservation Commission and used to improve or create wetlands and improve stormwater management across the city.
Mayor Tom Blake, who serves on the committee for the Long Creek restoration project, said the project is "one of the many links we need to work together to achieve our long-term goal of making Long Creek swimmable, drinkable and fishable. Right now, you can't do any of those in Long Creek."
Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:
mcreamer@pressherald.com