Central Maine Power’s plan to build a 10,000-square-foot substation at the end of Wadleigh Lane met with strong opposition from about 30 residents at a recent public information session hosted by the utility.
State Rep. Tiffany Roberts organized the Sept 5 session and Central Maine Power stepped in to lead the meeting after neighbors spoke out against the proposal at a recent Planning Board meeting.
The proposed substation would be located on a quarter acre CMP purchased in a field near the start of the road to the reservoir and in an area where neighbors frequently hike. The new station would replace a smaller substation on Liberty Street that CMP says is no longer sufficient to meet the growing demand.
Speaking at the Sept. 9 Town Council Meeting, Council Chair Mallory Cook, who also attended the Sept. 5 session, said the presentation was inadequate and citizens questions were not addressed.
“Central Maine Power CMP needs to do a lot more to help the public understand what this project will look like and to answer the question of why Wadleigh Lane was chosen and why it couldn’t be located in the industrial corridor,” Cook said.
Resident David McDermott of Bennett Lot Road told the council that he too found the company’s Sept. 5 presentation “totally inadequate. Every question from the public was deferred.”
Scott Landis of Academy Street voiced strong opposition to the plan for locating an industrial project in a residential neighborhood.
“The area has a rich natural habitat that provides great recreational and educational value to residents of all ages in South Berwick,” Landis said.
Tamre Steinhauer of Hill Drive asked if the planning board answers to the town council and if the town comprehensive plan goal of maintaining green space would be considered in any decision made about the project. Town Manager Tim Pellerin said appointments of Planning Board members are made by the Town Council, but the council has no oversight of planning board decisions.
Councilor Melissa Costella added that although the Town Council values public input, the Planning Board makes the final decision on projects covered by the town’s land use ordinances.
Costella encouraged residents to direct their concerns and criticisms to the Planning Board and to CMP so they “get to the right people.” She noted that CMP contact information was included on the CMP presentation slides that were in the Sept. 9 council packet given to councilors and available online.
Greg Thompson, CMP community relations representative, told the council the feedback from residents at the Friday meeting was appreciated.
“We did not provide a number of answers, and we apologize for that,” Thompson said.
The project will slow down while alternate sites suggested by residents at the Friday meeting are reviewed and analyzed, he added, predicting “You probably won’t hear from us for a few weeks while we do that analysis.”
