Saco Planning Board approves Southern Maine Athlete Academy's conditional use in industrial park over one dissent

The Saco Planning Board voted 4–1 on May 5 to grant a conditional‑use permit allowing Southern Maine Athlete Academy to operate a coach‑led athletic facility at 73 Industrial Park Road.

Acting chair Joyce Larry Clark, vice chair of the Planning Board, presided over the continued application review after City Planner Charles Tettleman told the board that the applicant must complete a post‑construction stormwater certification before any certificate of occupancy is issued. Tettleman said that requirement comes from the site‑plan approval and remains binding even if it was not added as a condition in this application.

The applicant, Jeremy Longchamp of Southern Maine Athlete Academy, told the board the operation will be appointment‑based, coach‑led training sessions with 6–12 athletes (12 is the stated maximum), no games or spectators, and staggered arrivals to reduce congestion. He said the academy has “6 dedicated spaces plus 7 common spaces” and cited observations from a Portland location that the business has not exceeded five parking spaces in practice. Developer partner Peter Lavoie said all units on the site are occupied or under contract.

The central issue in deliberations was whether a youth recreational facility fits the city's industrial zoning goals. Planning board member Jeff Brochu said he appreciated the applicant's presentation but raised concerns about bringing children into an industrial district and whether the use aligns with the industrial zone's intent. Brochu said, “I just have a hard time figuring out how your use fits into the intended use for the Industrial Zone,” and argued that industrial districts are intended to support light industry and high‑value jobs rather than commercial recreational uses.

Attorney Mary Costigan, representing the applicant, urged the board to apply the conditional‑use standards that govern this application rather than re‑litigate the zone's general purpose, noting the use is listed as conditional in the ordinance and pointing the board to “section 2 30 14 oh 6.” Board members offered differing perspectives: Jim Moller and Chris Gagnon said the council had already made the land‑use decision to permit recreational facilities as conditional uses and that the board's role was to determine whether this specific proposal meets the standards; Brochu said the board should weigh long‑term land‑use outcomes for the industrial area.

After deliberation the board voted on the staff findings and conditions and then on the conditional‑use application. Votes were recorded as follows:
- Findings of fact: passed 4–1 (Yes: Chris Gagnon, Jim Moller, Catherine Paolini, Joyce Larry Clark; No: Jeff Brochu).
- Conditions of approval: passed 4–1 (Yes: Chris Gagnon, Jim Moller, Catherine Paolini, Joyce Larry Clark; No: Jeff Brochu).
- Grant of conditional‑use application: passed 4–1 (Yes: Chris Gagnon, Jim Moller, Catherine Paolini, Joyce Larry Clark; No: Jeff Brochu).

The conditions include the standard items noted by staff and the requirement that the post‑construction stormwater certification be submitted and approved before issuance of any certificate of occupancy, a constraint that Charles Tettleman said could prevent the tenant from occupying the building until satisfied. The board did not amend other technical conditions drafted by staff.

Next steps: The conditional‑use permit was granted with the conditions adopted tonight; staff will follow up on outstanding technical items and verify the stormwater certification before occupancy is allowed.