Here’s what Amazon needs to move forward with its proposed facility in Gorham

Amazon Secures Gorham Planning Board Approval for 146,280‑Square‑Foot Warehouse, but Key Permits Still Pending

The city of Gorham confirmed Wednesday that Amazon has received formal approval from its Planning Board for a proposed distribution center located off Main Street (Route 25). The 146,280‑square‑foot facility will occupy a 94‑acre parcel that Amazon has agreed to purchase from the town for $4 million, although the sale has not yet closed.

Although the local board has cleared the site, the project still must obtain three separate permits before construction can begin: a traffic‑movement permit from the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), an environmental protection license from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and a Clean Water Act permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The state and federal agencies are still reviewing the application, and the town will not be able to move forward until all approvals are in place.

Traffic Concerns

Amazon’s traffic‑impact study estimates that the warehouse will generate roughly 3,000 daily truck, van and car trips, with 354 of those trips occurring during the weekday morning rush, 335 during the evening rush, and 410 on Saturday peak hours. The trucks will travel on Route 25, just five miles from the Maine Turnpike, and will need to use Main Street to access the site.

MDOT officials say the company’s initial study was “incomplete” and that Amazon must submit a revised version before the department can issue a movement permit. The agency expects to grant the permit within 120 days of receiving a completed study, but the timeline is still uncertain.

Amazon has proposed widening Main Street in front of the warehouse to add a two‑way turning lane, and installing traffic signals at the intersection of Mosher Road (Route 237) and Main Street. Those suggestions were part of the site plans approved by the Gorham board.

Westbrook, where the trucks will pass through on Route 25, is also involved in the traffic‑improvement process. Westbrook Mayor David Morse said, “We will press for meaningful measures to address those impacts and for Amazon to pay for the improvements its project makes necessary. Westbrook residents and taxpayers should not be left to shoulder that burden.” The mayor noted that Westbrook has no formal say in the project beyond its participation in the traffic‑planning discussions.

Environmental Review

The Maine DEP is set to issue a decision on Amazon’s environmental license by September 21, the department’s deadline. Deputy Commissioner David Madore indicated that a roughly one‑week delay in the final review could push the decision beyond that date.

During a July public meeting, DEP Licensing Division Director Jessica Damon explained that the warehouse will impact 34,918 square feet of freshwater wetlands. The agency will evaluate how Amazon plans to avoid, minimize, or compensate for these wetland impacts, as well as assess potential noise, air quality, lighting, and endangered‑species issues. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will also provide input regarding species that might be affected.

Residents who attended the meeting raised concerns about the environmental impact and have submitted comment letters to the DEP’s public website, urging a denial or delay of the application. If the permit is granted, it will be posted online through the Maine Enterprise Licensing System.

Federal Clean Water Review

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently reviewing Amazon’s request to discharge fill material into wetlands to prepare the site. The federal agency will make a decision in November, pending input from the Maine DEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Corps’ New England district public‑affairs chief, Troy Darr, confirmed that the review is still in progress.

Community Response

A petition circulating among Gorham residents seeks a temporary moratorium on industrial developments that would generate more than 1,500 daily vehicle trips. If the petition reaches 1,413 signatures, a special election could be called, making the moratorium retroactive to Amazon’s proposed warehouse. The current signature count stands at just over 400.

Town Manager Ephrem Parashak said that once all necessary permits are received, the warehouse will undergo a post‑approval review with town staff to ensure compliance with local regulations. The town’s final approval process included a sketch‑plan meeting, two public hearings, a workshop, and a final vote.

Bottom Line

Amazon has cleared the local planning board stage for a new distribution center in Gorham, but state and federal agencies must still grant traffic, environmental, and water‑permit approvals. Residents in both Gorham and neighboring Westbrook are actively monitoring the project’s potential traffic and environmental impacts, while a petition seeks to delay or block the development until March. The next few weeks will be crucial as MDOT, DEP and the Army Corps of Engineers move toward their final decisions.