NEW GLOUCESTER – The Zoning Committee agreed Wednesday to include a pedestrian-friendly Upper Gloucester Village in the town growth plan being developed.

The village is generally described as along Route 100 from Gilmore Road to Route 231.

In the next month, Town Planner Amanda Simpson will review all past studies and maps of the area, meet with officials from the Auburn Water District and Yarmouth Water District and contact Maine Department of Transportation. Boundary lines for the village are needed.

“This is the dream stage,” Simpson said. “Do we want Route 100 to be our Main Street for New Gloucester? I don’t think the state will let you manipulate Route 100” by reducing the speed limit to 25 mph, she said. “We need that to bring the street down to a pedestrian level. Maybe Peacock Hill Road has the potential and capability of being a pedestrian village” Simpson said.

Steep land around the blinking light at the intersection of Routes 231 and 100 is hazardous for pedestrians and south of the blinker are wetlands. There are no town sidewalks, sewer or water systems.

“I envision we can build a similar sewer structure like Pineland. They provide water and sewer ” Simpson said.

Simpson talked about water supplies and water treatment systems. “When you tie water and sewer, you change the land use. I am not putting a price tag on it, but, it’s a lot of money,” she said.

Intersections are not at right angles along Upper Gloucester Road, Peacock Hill Road, Route 231 and Route 100, and problems exist from a former sand/salt pile at Upper Village.

The committee will meet again July 12.

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