GorhamTimes - Volume 31 Number 24 - December 18, 2025

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel

A community-focused Gorham, Maine newspaper issue highlights local governance and development topics, including a Planning Board meeting that drew public attention to an Amazon warehouse proposal, public comment concerns, and approval of a subdivision amendment with stated conditions. Additional coverage celebrates funding secured for the Gorham Community Forest project, describing trail, accessibility, and community recreation plans supported by Maine’s Trails Program. Sports reporting previews Rams winter seasons and outlines expectations for multiple teams.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Planning Board’s December Meeting Draws Crowd

Gorham Community Forest Grant

Rams Winter Sports Outlook 2025-26

Christmas Services Page 11

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID GORHAM, ME PERMIT NO. 10 Volume 31 Number 24 | December 18, 2025 A Free, Not-for-Profit Newspaper Serving Gorham Since 1995-Celebrating 30 Years Planning Board’s December Meeting Draws Crowd Sally Fay, Staff Writer Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Gorham Planning Board Preliminary rendering of the proposed Amazon warehouse submitted to the Town of Gorham in November The Planning Board held its monthly meeting on Dec. 1 at the Gorham Municipal Center with six board members in attendance (Chair James Hager, Vice Chair William Benson, Rob Delaney, Russell Frank, Barbara Nichols, David Walsh) and one absent (Stephen Crisafulli) . Also present were Thomas Poirier, the town’s director of community development; Carol Eyerman, town planner; Damon Yakovleff, assistant town planner; and Chuck Norton, town engineer. The meeting drew significant public interest, as the last item on the agenda was discussion of an initial proposal [by Amazon. com](by Amazon. com) LLC to build a 158,100-square-foot warehouse facility on a 94-acre industrial-zoned parcel on Main Street. Item 1 on the evening’s agenda, a public hearing on a request for Special Exception review of a proposal by the Pinecrest Inn Bed and Breakfast at 91 South Street to add indoor dining as an accessory use, was tabled at the request of the applicants (6 Ayes, 1 Absent) . Item 2 was a discussion of a request to amend the Fort Hill Heights Subdivision to merge Lot 3 with an abutting lot. The parcel is located on tax map 44 (lot 3-3, zoned Rural) . Following a brief discussion, the board approved the request with conditions (6 Ayes, 1 Absent) . Discussion of item 3, the Amazon proposal, comprised a pre-application/ site review for a last-mile warehouse facility with parking, access drives for trucks and delivery vans, utilities, and other associated infrastructure and extended over roughly 90 minutes. Although the format was a discussion rather than a public hearing, Chair Hager requested that the Board entertain a motion to allow a period of public comment. Such motion was moved and seconded, with all present board members in favor (6 Ayes, 1 Absent) . Eleven Gorham residents, the majority from Shamrock Drive and Gateway Commons, voiced concerns about the proposed project. Issues raised included traffic impacts, noise and light pollution, and to what extent the project will benefit Gorham’s tax base and workforce. The meeting can be viewed in its entirety at [https://play.champ](https://play.champ)[ds . com/gorham me/event/197](ds . com/gorham me/event/197) . A public hearing will take place ata later date, pending the applicant’s progress in obtaining the required state approvals. The Board elected not to schedule a site walk at this time. Gorham Community Forest Grant Chris Crawford, Features Editor Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) is excited to announce that they have received full funding in the amount of $237,990 from the State of Maine Trails Program to build the Gorham Community Forest. Maine voters, via ballot in 2024 passed the statewide initiative which created a $30-million Maine Trails bond to support the design, construction, and rehabilitation of trails for outdoor recreation throughout the state. Will Sedlack, executive director of PRLT said, “This investment from the State speaks to the vision and importance of our efforts.” These funds will cover costs for designing and building more than a mile of accessible boardwalk trails for the Gorham Community Forest (GCF) project which was announced last May. Centrally located in downtown Gorham, GCF is a 53-acre parcel of wetlands, which includes a brook, meadows, and some forest land with ample wildlife habitat. Parking will likely be located off New Portland Road, behind Village School. The Maine Trails grant money will also allow construction to begin in early spring, 2026, according to PRLT’s project manager, Toby Jacobs. Once the boardwalks are completed,

FAQs

What was the main topic of the Planning Board’s December meeting?

The meeting included discussion of an initial proposal to build a large Amazon warehouse facility on an industrial-zoned parcel on Main Street.

What funding supported the Gorham Community Forest project?

The project received full funding totaling $237,990 from the State of Maine Trails Program to build accessible boardwalk trails.

What kind of winter sports information is included in this issue?

The issue provides a winter sports outlook for the 2025-26 Rams, including notes about conditions and team prospects, such as girls basketball and Alpine skiing.

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel