Planners consider new building at town 'Gateway'

NORWAY — A proposal from a local developer could bring slight changes to the face of Norway.

Ken Poland, president of the Poland Corporation in West Paris, plans to tear down an abandoned house on 34 Fair Street, directly across from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, and replace it with a 28' by 52' office and retail building.

Poland says that he plans to begin work on the new structure this summer, and intends to rent half of the space out to a beautician. The rest would be rented out as office space.

Poland, who has owned the house since 2007, says the structure is in poor condition, with the frame separating in places from its granite foundation.

Planning board members and Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman were on site on Thursday, April 28 before reviewing Poland's plans at a meeting.

Chairman Dennis Gray suggested that, since the building will stand in an area of town classified as a "Gateway Area" by Norway's Comprehensive Plan (adopted in 2004), Poland should make sure that the building stands out in some way.

According to the plan, which was adopted by the town of Norway at a public hearing, "Gateway areas to the south and north of the Downtown are important areas for business development and as entrances to the Downtown. They should have many of the qualities of the Downtown – maintain good building design, have signage and landscaping that complements the area, and provide off street parking."

In that light, Gray urged Poland to ensure that his building was not just generic, but added to the attractiveness of Norway in some way.

"Since it's in the Gateway section of town, it should have some extra architectural detail to make the building pop," said Gray.

The board agreed to schedule a public hearing in order to consider confirmation of Poland's plans for the lot.