WATERVILLE — The Planning Board on Monday will consider an $11 million project consisting of building 50 apartments at the former Seton Hospital on Chase Avenue and consider making a recommendation to the City Council that the property be rezoned to allow the apartment construction.

At the meeting, slated for 7 p.m. in the council chamber at The Center, the board also will hold a public hearing to consider recommending to councilors where medical marijuana-related businesses and other operations should be located in the city and what restrictions should apply to them.

The Waterville City Council will consider approving a tax-increment financing deal for redevelopment of the former Seton Hospital. Staff file photo by David Leaming

The board makes recommendations on rezoning and marijuana facilities and the council makes the final decisions.

Planning Board members Monday also will consider a final plan for an addition to Grossman Hall at Colby College and a final plan to make improvements to Fran Purnell Field on Mathews Avenue.

Developer Tom Siegel, of RME Property Consultants, of Topsham, plans to build 50 one- and two-bedroom apartments in the former Seton Hospital’s six-story tower, and most of those units would be two-bedroom. The ground level would accommodate 23,000 square feet of office space; and the lower level, 35,000 square feet of warehouse and storage space. Kevin Mattson, of Waterville Redevelopment Corp., owns the property. The City Council voted unanimously May 17 to approve a tax increment financing district and related development for the project.

The board on Monday will consider an informal preapplication review for the construction under the city’s zoning ordinance and subdivision and site plan review ordinance.

The board also will consider a request to recommend to councilors whether the property should be rezoned from Institutional to Downtown Industrial, as that latter zone allows for the apartments, commercial offices and warehouse space.

Meanwhile, the board will host the public hearing on the medical marijuana issue. City Solicitor Bill Lee, who is working with the board to hone language in a proposed ordinance governing medical marijuana-related operations, advised the board May 16 that the city could prohibit marijuana-related facilities from being downtown but cannot restrict them everywhere in the city.

Meanwhile, the board will consider the final plan for Fran Purnell Field, which is targeted to become a miniature replica of Wrigley Field in Chicago, to include synthetic turf suitable for children with physical disabilities, as well as dugouts and a new concession/public address building with restrooms. The board will consider the project under the subdivision and site plan review ordinance.

The Alfond Youth Center plans to improve the city-owned field, which is being renamed Purnell-Wrigley Field, using grants from the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and Harold Alfond Foundation, as well as money from businesses and individuals. The project is expected to cost $1.2 million.

Colby’s final plan for an approximately 2,000-square-foot addition to Grossman Hall also will be considered under the city’s subdivision and site plan review ordinance. The addition would make the entire building about 4,231 square feet and turn it into the college’s career center.

The two-story addition would be built on the back of the building. Meeting rooms and a community area will be built on the first floor and an elevator installed in the middle of the building, according to plans. Building entrances would be made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17

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