Biddeford affordable housing proposal clears river commission hurdle

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In a unanimous vote Wednesday night, the Saco River Corridor Commission approved making a technical change to a small parcel of land near Rotary Park, adjusting its designation from “Limited Residential” to “General Development.”

The move was based largely on updated mapping technology that was not available in 1973, when the Commission was created by the Maine Legislature. In January the Biddeford City Council passed a unanimous resolution in favor of the change and Biddeford’s full legislative delegation, led by Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau, also registered its strong support with the Commission.

The vote means that Bateman Partners can bring an application to the Biddeford Planning Board to build affordable housing. The company plans to build two new apartment buildings, both three stories tall, that house 30 apartments each, thereby expanding the existing Forest Green development that currently consists of 40 apartments. The new units will be one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The proposal is a long way from final approval, however. If it meets with Planning Board approval, it then has to go back to the Saco River Corridor Commission for another review of the projects details. Last night’s vote was a preliminary step.

Bateman Partners is based in Portland. Over the course of 45 years, the company’s principals have built commercial and residential projects worth in excess of $380 million in Maine and New Hampshire.