by Ardeana Hamlin
of The Weekly Staff
ORRINGTON — When it comes to developing a plot of land and putting buildings on it, vision is a key ingredient. The vision of developers and business partners Phil Pouzol and Larry Pelletier, both of Orrington, is taking shape as North Orrington Meadows, just under a mile from the Brewer town line on Route 15.
Work on the first of what, initially, will be five 2-unit buildings on the site began in August. That building is now completed except for a few finishing interior touches.
“Planning [for the development] began in the spring of 2014 when we started digging a hole [for the foundation]. Phil and I designed the units — with input from our wives,” Pelletier said.
“Each unit has 1,800 square feet, has two bedrooms and two full baths — one with a shower with a built in seat, the other with a tub — and a two-car garage. The units are heated by radiants in the floor,” explained Pouzol. “A heat pump will provide heating through fall and spring, as well as air conditioning.” Each unit also will have a patio and a laundry room. The units are connected to town water and town sewer system. Kitchens and baths are tiled and the remainder of the floor space is covered with engineered flooring. Color schemes for each unit vary, utilizing light or dark cabinetry, and wall colors in light cream, light beige and light silver.
A building already on the property when Pouzol and Pelletier bought it has been rehabbed to serve as the North Orrington Meadows recreation center.
Pouzol said he and Pelletier chose Orrington for the development because of the town’s reasonable tax base, proximity to hospitals and the fact that the property abuts Rocky Knoll Golf Course.
Another aspect of the vision for the development is that it is designed for senior citizens who are ready to downsize and move to an all-on-one-floor residence where they don’t have to worry about plowing and shoveling snow, and mowing lawns.
Pouzol’s and Pelletier’s vision for the future also includes a community vegetable garden, a wooded walking path and a road that connects to the golf course so residents can drive their golf carts out of their garages and directly to the links.
The location also offers the advantage of proximity to shopping and medical care in Brewer and Bangor.
“Larry and I have put in a lot of hours [on the project],” Pouzol said. “There was lots of preliminary [permitting] work to do. Orrington was very cordial in working with us, happy to see new development. It has all gone very well. We are pleased and happy we got the building up before winter and are looking forward to putting up another one in the summer.”
Future plans for the development may include smaller units to accommodate the needs of “snow birds” who want a place to come home to during the summer months after wintering in the South.
An open house will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17-18, at North Orrington Meadows. For information, call Phil Pouzol at 825-4704.