By Kelly Morgan,Staff Writer

NORWAY – Western Maine Development on Thursday took a first step toward developing town houses on the C.B. Cummings & Sons Mill site.

Representative Marcy Boughter appeared before the Norway Planning Board to discuss subdividing 13,517 square feet of the property to make way for what she said would be “no more than two” buildings.

Western Maine Development, the real estate arm of the Oxford Hills Growth Council, owns the land. Boughter said the intent is to eventually sell the property to developers, who would then be responsible for new buildings or renovations.

“We’ve had a lot of bites,” she said. “There’s just an awful lot of work that still has to go into it.”

The Growth Council and the town of Norway have been working on grant applications to help pay for infrastructure improvements on the site that would make it appealing to developers.

Everything from retail and office space to light manufacturing is being considered for the former dowel mill property.

Planning Board member Michael Micklon asked whether a site plan review was needed for the subdivision application.

“I think this is all we need,” said member Anne Kinney, “just the subdivision application, and we can just accept this tonight.”

The board accepted the application. Kinney said the town now has 30 days to tell Western Maine Development whether it will be considered complete. A public hearing will be held before the board votes on the complete application.

On Friday, Boughter said that developers will have to appear before the Planning Board with any plans for the subdivision. In addition, her organization is forming a committee that will review all development proposals beforehand.

“We don’t want anything outrageous,” she said. “It has to blend in with the town.”