The owners of the Northeastern Motel at 322 Roosevelt Trail in Windham have asked the town for a contract zone so the property of the existing motel can be redeveloped into residential dwelling units.
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| The Windham Town Council has sent a contract zone request to change the zoning of the Northeastern Motel at 322 Roosevelt Trail in Windham to the Windham Planning Board for review. Motel owners are seeking to convert motel rooms into efficiency apartments. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE |
Owners are asking that zoning for the site be changed to allow Dwelling, Multifamily as a permitted use. Under current “F” zoning requirements multifamily dwellings are only allowed for the conversion of an existing dwelling or accessory building that was in existence prior to May 13, 1986, and no more than three dwelling units may be created per lot.
A zoning change would allow the property owners up to 23 dwelling units on the property, which differs from the only two dwellings currently allowed there.
The nine-unit motel with an attached owner’s unit building existed prior to Windham’s adoption of zoning ordinances on July 8, 1976. On Nov. 5, 1987, the town’s Board of Appeals granted permission to expand the non-conforming use “Suburban Pines Motel” to double the size and a 13-unit adjacent building was constructed on the property in 1988. Windham’s Planning Board approved a subdivision of the property into five lots on April 23, 1990, and over the past 32 years has been further reduced to its current 3.8 acre configuration.
The zoning change request is the second time that a contract zone has been requested for this property.
In 2016, the previous property owner requested a contract zone to permit Motels and Multifamily Dwellings and increase density there. On July 12, 2016, a vote by the Windham Town Council failed to send the application to the Planning Board for review and recommendation.
As outlined in Windham’s Land Use Ordinance, a request for a contract zone, like other proposed ordinance changes, would require sending the request to the Planning Board for a public hearing and a recommendation would be sent back to the Town Council.
According to Shawn M. Frank, project engineer and Senior Vice President, Commercial and Development, for Sebago Technics representing the owners, the applicant proposes that the entire property be rezoned as an overlay to the underlying Farm District.
Frank said that no easements are proposed and restrictions on the property will limit the overall unit count as it currently exists. The applicants, who purchased the site in 2017, propose expansion in square footage to the existing motel room units to provide individual kitchen facilities to create efficiency dwelling units. Proposed improvements also including removal of the existing boulders along the parking lot perimeter shown on the Contract Zone Plan.
Frank said if the Planning Board and the town eventually approve the project, the motel rooms would be converted into affordable one-bedroom apartments.
During a discussion of the matter, town councilors were enthusiastic about the project.
“I’m in favor of this also,” Councilor Bill Reiner said. “It’s in existing usage in this zone and it makes it
more suitable for the area.”
Councilor Jarrod Maxfield expressed support for the project saying he has faith that if approved, it will be a quality project.
Windham Councilor Mark Morrison said he likes what the owners are proposing for the property.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for the town,” Morrison said. “We’re upgrading a facility that is currently here.”
Councilor Brett Jones said he thinks the contract zone is a good idea, but his concern would be that the longer-term rentals could turn into homeless shelters.
Frank said the new efficiencies would rent for about $1,000 and designed for stable individuals and couples.
By a general consensus of approval, town councilors sent the contract zone request to the Windham Planning Board for review. <
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