ROCKPORT — The Rockport Planning Board will convene Feb. 27 to address a two-item agenda that includes a preapplication discussion with Habitat for Humanity about its idea to locate 10 new homes and a daycare facility on a parcel abutting Commercial Street (Route 1), as well as wrap up the approval process for the expansion of a tofu production facility on Route 90.

The latter concerns the plans of Tofoodio LLC, which makes Hewia Tofu, to build an addition, "just under 3,000 square feet in an area where there is already existing pavement," the draft project findings said, as written in the Planning Board's Feb. 27 premeeting packet.

"Maine Water Company will be installing a two-inch water line," the project notes said. "A sewer Industrial User permit application has been submitted, but this has not been received yet. A sewer manhole will be added to the property. For parking, the maximum number of employees to be here was used, which is 12 employees. This results in 14 spaces required. Project is providing 16 with an ADA space near entrance door. Stormwater draining is continuing to existing draining ditch on Route 90, towards the existing culvert. Solid waste, there is an existing dumpster, which will be moved to pavement area with a screened in fence. Lighting plan has been supplied in the application. Existing sign will stay, with a new sign to go on the building conforming to the Land Use Ordinance."

The existing business is at 201 West Street, on a one-acre lot. The 2,962-square-foot building addition is to be constructed on the south side of the existing building and include more room for tofu processing, a packing room, cooler, maintenance space, room for shipping and receiving, and a bathroom.

Habitat for Humanity

The Planning Board will hear about the plans of Midcoast Habitat for Humanity to subdivide its 3.6 acre parcel on Commercial Street. The parcel does not have a street number but it is adjacent to the former Hoboken School House property, near the greenhouses of Guini Ridge Farm.

Habitat for Humanity hopes to build 10 new single family homes and a daycare facility there, and establish a condominium form of ownership. Access is to be provided by a 700-foot-long road that is 20-feet wide and ends in a T-turnaround. The homes are to be tied into public water and sewer, and have underground utilities.

It is noted in the introductory letter to the Planning Board that the Town of Rockport is intending to install a public sewer main on Commercial Street with a grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission (Northern Border Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership for economic and community development in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Details about that grant are still pending, the plans said.

Engineering company Landmark Corporation is asking for a waiver of a traffic study.

"Due to the small size of this project, we do not feel that a traffic study is warranted," wrote Michael Sabatini, Landmark engineer. "Based on trip generation rates, the weekday peak for this project would only be about 25 trips. We feel this is negligible compared to approximately 900 peak hour trips experienced by Commercial Street and would not diminish its level of service."

He is also asking that the Planning Board forego requiring a hydrogeologic assessment, given that the homes will be serviced by public utilities, and create no adverse effect on ground water quality.

The homes vary in size, some with four bedrooms, others with one bedroom.