By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — Nine months ago, the residents of the towns belonging to School Administrative District (SAD) #61 voted in favor of renovating the Crooked River School at the cost of $9 million.

There is still some voting to be done since the site plan application for renovating the school has to come before the planning board in the Town of Casco, where the school is located. 

On Monday, the Casco Planning Board deemed the Crooked River School renovation application to be complete and approved two waivers.

One waiver allows for smaller parking spaces. The reason for this request was based mostly on a desire to use the existing parking lot and not lose field space but also because more people are driving compact vehicles.

The second waiver would reduce the 25-foot buffer required by Casco’s ordinance. While buffers often provide privacy and reduce noise, it was argued that a school should be visible. Fewer trees to hide behind would prevent crime or illicit activity, the landscaping architect said. Also, eliminating the planting of some of the trees in the original plan greatly reduced the cost of the project.

Both of these waivers were granted.

It should be noted that fairly early in the meeting, planning board member Stan Buchanan made the announcement that he would recuse himself.

“I have a semi-conflict. I am member of SAD 61 school board. I won’t be voting but I will take part in the discussion,” he said.

The remaining board members made if official by voting to recuse Buchanan from voting. This will be the case going forward, whenever the school-renovation project is on the agenda.

SAD 61 has hired three firms for the architectural aspect of this project.

Architect Douglas Breer, with Stephen Blatt Architects, out of Portland, presented the plans for the renovation of the existing building and the construction of the second-story, 13,800-foot addition. The renderings and accompanying information is probably what the public is most familiar with as it was discussed prior to the vote in March. 

Andrew Johnston is the principal civil engineer with Atlantic Resource Consultants, based in Freeport. He discussed the parking lot, the septic system, and the fields behind the school.

Project manager Matthew “Matt” Phillips is a licensed landscape engineer with Carroll Associates in Portland. 

Phillips pitched the request for one of the waivers. He argued that reducing the size of the buffer between the school and Route 11 was vital for the public safety of the school. It would help drivers to have a better line of sight, he said. It would deter unsavory activity and allow passing law enforcement to easily see what’s going on in front of school.

“If you can be seen, you are less likely to do bad behavior,” he said.

Casco Town Planner Jim Seymour said that the buffer’s function is also to provide aesthetics. He suggested flowerbeds next to the school signs.

After the presentations were given, Seymour spoke to the board, encouraging comment on the waivers. 

“Overall, this is a very good application. We should make a motion to deem the application complete. We should discuss the waivers to give them” an idea of whether or not the board will consider approving them, Seymour said. 

Much of the discussion on Monday night had to do with what was outside of the school: the parking lot, the septic system, the emergency vehicle access, the snow-removal plans, and the landscaping.

Seymour said that the parking lot should have a combination of aisles for larger vehicles since many Mainers prefer trucks.

On Monday night, nobody from the public stepped forward with comment on the project during the public comment period provided.

However, at the end of the meeting, Grant Plummer, a Casco selectman who was sitting in the audience, reminded the board that it will take another two years before the project is done and the school is open for children. Meanwhile, Songo Locks School is  still overcrowded with students learning in portables, he said.