Maine needs about 20,000 more affordable housing units, and Mayor Jason Levesque has decided that Auburn is going to create 2,000 new units — in other words, take on the burden of supplying 10% of the state’s need, with no concern as to whether most people who live here would like that level of increased density.
The process of changing zoning to fit the mayor’s ambition never took into account the character of specific neighborhoods.
But the developers and the mayor are in a hurry. As the owners of a property that houses a natural spring, my spouse and I attended a Planning Board meeting on June 28 that included a review of the nearby proposed “Brickyard Commons” development.
This would be a 96-unit development with its only point of entrance/egress onto Brickyard Circle, a small one-way street, and involve an immediate turn onto Washington Street. The site is adjacent to Taylor Brook, requiring Maine DEP review under the Natural Resources Protection Act. It would be adjacent to a chemical handling plant that has experienced spills.
Our impression was that the city had made up its mind that this development will be approved, and the Planning Board appeared indifferent to the concerns of the nearby property owners. But don’t worry — we may lose green space and a wetlands buffer, but someday the city’s “connectivity” plan will allow people to walk past the chemical handling plant and other industrial sites on a rail trail.
People should stay tuned for the citizen referendum.
Renee Cote, Auburn
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