The Mexico Planning Board discussed applying for a federal grant for a flood plan.
By John Plestina
Special to the Sun Journal

MEXICO – Town officials are concerned. Damage caused by flooding in 1987 cost $1.2 million. If a similar situation was to happen today, that figure would be considerably higher.

In preparation for such an event, the Mexico Planning Board discussed applying for a federal grant to come up with a flood plan for the downtown area.

Town Manager Joe Derouche said a flood plan would be the third phase of the downtown development plan.

The grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would allow Mexico to study the feasibility of buying and removing apartment buildings and single-family homes from the flood plain. The project also would include building new housing in other parts of town.

“The main goal is to prevent flooding from getting into homes again,” Derouche said at Thursday’s Planning Board meeting.

Derouche also asked the Planning Board for an update of the existing downtown development plan.

The current downtown development area extends from the Swift River Bridge to the Mexico-Rumford Veterans Bridge. Derouche wants to expand the zone from the Veterans Bridge to Dexter Supply and about two miles along Route 17.

“It will give me a road map for strategic planning for these areas,” Derouche said.

In other business, the Planning Board discussed a proposed zoning change for a small area on Route 17. The change from residential to development would allow Glenn Belanger to open a car repair business.

The residential zoning in that area was an oversight when the town drafted its comprehensive plan in 1996, said Chairman Daniel Casey. The issue could go to voters at the annual town meeting in June.

The Planning Board also approved a subdivision expansion on Poplar Hill. Developer Jamie Milledge can now add nine lots to the subdivision.

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