Proposed Chipotle, Jersey Mike's Subs building in Saco receives site plan approval

SACO — A development for a proposed three-unit commercial building that would house a Chipotle Mexican Grill and Jersey Mike's Subs on Route One received site plan approval by the planning board.

Saco Retail Management LLC would like to pursue development on a 5,400 square foot multi-unit commercial building on the site of the former Pizza Hut restaurant at 507 Main St. (Route One). The proposed building would be occupied by a 2,600 Chipotle Mexican Grill with drive-thru, a 1,400 square foot walk-in only Jersey Mike’s Subs and an additional 1,400 square foot retail establishment.

In July the City Council approved a contract zone to allow a fast-food restaurant on the property and accommodate plans in the development that are not allowed at that location under current zoning – parking in front of the building and a drive-thru lane that is less than five feet from the property line. In exchange, the city will be deeded land behind the building to allow for the construction of a connector road between Smith Lane and Stockman Avenue.

The proposed project is estimated to generate an additional 125 trips during weekday afternoon peak hours than the previous use as a Pizza Hut, and 147 more trips during Saturday midday peak hours, said State Traffic Engineer Stephen Landry in a written review of the project dated March 18.

The proposed multi-unit restaurant and commercial building would be located at the corner of Route one and Smith Lane. The entrance to the building would be on Smith Lane, across the street from where a combination KFC and Taco Bell restaurant is located. Further down on Smith Lane are condominium and housing developments, and several residents from this area spoke at Tuesday night’s meeting with concerns regarding traffic.

Bob Berwick, a resident of the Settlers Way condominium development, said the added vehicles from the proposed new businesses would cause frequent traffic back ups and negatively impact the neighborhood.

“I don’t see any reason why the homeowners should have to wait in the drive-thru lane in order to go home,” he said.

Mark Daniels, also a Settlers Way resident, said going down Smith Lane, he had to play “a half a game of pinball," avoiding drivers who weren’t paying attention to traffic as they entered and exited the KFC/Taco Bell building, and it would only get more hazardous if the with the proposed development, as there would be traffic entering from both sides.

The plan includes traffic signal modifications as required by the Maine Department of Transportation, as well as the addition of a sidewalk on Smith Lane that would connect to the development and the Route One sidewalk, and extending the right turn lane off Smith Lane onto Route One from 60 feet to 150 feet.

Planning Board Member Joyce Leary Clark said thought the proposed the traffic modifications, especially the addition of the 150-foot queuing lane, addressed concerns.

Planning Board Chairwoman Alyssa Bouthot said the connector between Smith Lane and Stockman Avenue is something the city has wanted for years, and she thought that it represented a “long-term traffic solution.”

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.