Editor’s note: A portion of this story was inadvertently cut off in some editions of Thursday’s paper. It is reprinted here again on its entirety.
LEWISTON – Last minute efforts by Malo Street residents couldn’t stop an East Avenue hotel.
The City Council gave Ron Dubuc room to research building a four-story hotel and restaurant on three lots he owns, at 121 East Ave. and 6 and 8 Malo St. Now Dubuc plans a feasibility study to determine if a major national hotel chain is interested in locating on the lot.
That process was backward for some neighbors.
“We don’t even know if it is feasible yet,” said attorney Greg Cunningham. “All we have here now is a magic marker sketch. There is nothing to say what the finished product will look like.”
Dubuc hopes to raze his Mom and Dad’s Guest House on East Avenue and build a hotel with as many as 120 rooms, guest suites and a restaurant. He hopes to cater to people interested in visiting local colleges and hospitals, as well as business and tourist clients.
The properties were zoned Office Residential and Neighborhood Conservation Zone A, and neither district allows hotels.
Cunningham, hired to represent neighbor Floyd Jenkins of 111 East Ave., questioned the legality of the zoning change.
“It’s baffling to me that a hotel could be considered consistent with the neighborhood,” Cunningham said.
“What we have here is a concept at best. You should have more than a concept when you make a zoning change as drastic as this,” he said.
Leo Baillargeon of 29 Pearl St. doubted Dubuc could pull off the hotel. Dubuc has proposed other developments, Baillargeon said, and they’ve never been completed.
“My problem with this proposal is based on my past experiences with the developer,” he said. “I think its unlikely this would be completed as he has proposed.”
City Administrator Jim Bennett assured councilors the rezoning was legal but admitted Dubuc’s proposal was sparse. Dubuc doesn’t have the money to pay for a feasibility study and a national chain wouldn’t be interested in paying for one unless the zoning is changed.
“That is effectively the single greatest argument to shut this project down,” Bennett said.
Councilors said they felt safe, however. Many of the problems between Dubuc and the neighbors amounted to bad blood, said Councilor Mark Paradis. He urged the two to work together to make sure a good hotel is eventually built.
“I understand your concerns, but with the tax base this community needs to encourage, we need this,” Paradis said. “If everyone said ‘Not in my back yard,’ that just wouldn’t work, guys.” Tuesday’s decision changes the zoning conditionally to Community Business. According to the plan, Dubuc must maintain a 20-foot buffer around the property, shield lights on it from his neighbors and encourage only right turns onto Malo Street.
Councilors tacked on extra requirements, as well. Dubuc cannot build a standalone restaurant on the lot and the zoning would revert back to Office Residential and Neighborhood Conservation if the hotel falls through.
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