Gorham, ME

[MarkHB]

The amount of money this company throws around (remember the HQ2 frenzy a decade ago?) and they can't spring for a structured parking deck? This looks like something out of 1990s era development. Amazon's public policy office should know and do better than this.

That's largely the parking for the delivery trucks. They said during the meeting, they build more than what is needed so trucks don't back up on the main road (you don't have vehicles trying to jockey for space while others are waiting to get in the lot). Yes, it's more efficient for them as their drivers aren't spending time on the clock searching for a spot, but it also means their trucks aren't blocking Route 25 waiting to get into the lot. Putting them into a parking ramp would also defeat the purpose.

 

[Island Frye]

Gorham residents look to slow Amazon development over environmental concerns

The state Department of Environmental Protection plans to make a decision on Amazon's application by Sept. 21. Residents are asking them to take a longer, harder look.

www.pressherald.com

GORHAM — The Maine Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday hosted a rare public meeting to hear comments on Amazon’s application for its proposed warehouse and distribution facility near Gorham’s town center.

In addition to town and Department of Transportation approval, Amazon would need a permit from the DEP to move forward with the project. Damon and three other DEP representatives heard comments from 26 residents at the meeting. All but two discussed environmental concerns about the project, citing objections to noise and light pollution and impacts on wetlands and wildlife. They asked the DEP to deny or significantly slow its review of Amazon’s application.

Representatives from Bluewater Property Group, the developer for the project, and Flycatcher, the land-use consulting firm that conducted environmental studies for Amazon’s permit application, also attended the meeting.

Residents said they are losing hope that town officials will thoroughly scrutinize the negative environmental impacts of the project that it has already invested $4 million in, and that the state is in a better position to prevent longer-term negative impacts of the facility.

“I’m hopeful that the Department of Environmental Protection will be an impartial judge here,” Josh Trombley said.

Several called for the DEP to conduct or fund an independent environmental study not provided by Amazon, and expressed worries that DEP regulations would not be enforced in the long-term if the project moves forward.

“I respect Flycatcher, I think they’re very reputable,” said Katharine Atwood. “But relying solely on the applicant’s paid consultant in a proceeding where the town has a financial conflict of interest is not sufficient.”