Subdivision with 84 lots proposed for West Kennebunk land off Alewive Road

KENNEBUNK, Maine – A major subdivision proposed for Alewive Road is currently making its way through the town’s planning process.

If the plan is approved, the multi-phase project could soon result in a first batch of 40 residential lots on 20 acres, according to Jason Vafiades, of Atlantic Resources Consultants in Freeport. Vafiades is representing Kingsland Development Company, the developer of the project.

“We hope to have these lots available in 2021,” Vafiades said in a letter to the Kennebunk Planning Director Brittany Howard last month.

The site is located at 274 Alewive Road, in the West Kennebunk Village Residential Zone, on land that is “predominantly mature woodlands with rolling topography,” as Vafiades put in his letter. The property is situated in one of the town’s growth zones.

According to Howard, the developers are interested in subdividing seven lots totaling 76.6 acres.

Wetlands, open spaces, trails

Vafiades said the impact on wetlands for the total project, not just its first phase, would not exceed 15,000 square feet. Most of these impacts, he added, would be generated by the access off Alewive Road during Phase I.

Vafiades said the project allows for the creation of open spaces along Ward Brook, which Kingsland would “happily donate to the town,” he added – as well as opportunities for trails and passive recreation.

Currently, the site is solely accessed by Alewive Road. However, according to Vafiades, as part of the project, Kingsland would improve Truman’s Field Road to meet the town’s standards and serve as a secondary connection.

The town’s Planning Board discussed the project during a workshop on March 29.

A project summary, provided by the town’s Site Plan Review Board in January, shows the potential size of the project beyond its first phase: as many as 84 lots, all with septic systems.

At the workshop in March, however, Planning Board Chair Chris MacClinchy asked Vafiades how many lots could exist once all phases are finished and the build-out is complete. Vafiades said it depends on the kind of engineered septic system that would be in place.

“I’d say you’re looking at about a hundred lots,” Vafiades said.

Traffic concerns

Vafiades said a series of loop roads would be constructed in later phases to avoid creating dead ends.

During the workshop, Planning Board member Janice Vance expressed concern about the impact on traffic that the development would have.

“This is a lot more ... car trips per day than this area sees now,” she said. “There’s already backups on Alfred Road in the morning now for rush hour.”

Vafiades replied that even if 100 single-family homes were built in the area, “you would be surprised that wouldn’t be adding a whole lot of traffic, percentage-wise, to what you get out there.”

On Wednesday, Howard said the project is still in an early stage.

“It’s in the sketch stage of the planning board process,” she said.

Howard said abutters spoke at the virtual workshop in March and shared concerns about traffic, road maintenance, the widening of Truman Field’s Road to create that secondary access, and a cemetery in the area that has a 25-foot setback.

Howard said a time has not yet been set for the planning board to revisit the project.

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