GORHAM — A 146,280 square foot Amazon distribution warehouse could be coming to Gorham. 

It’s one of several Amazon facilities in Maine that are in the town approval process, including one in Waterville/Sidney, one in Hermon and one in Calais. 

The company bought the 94-acre property from the town in August of last year for $4 million. The warehouse is set to be located off Main Street.  

Chris Taylor, a professional engineer with Sebago Technics, which is working with Amazon for the development, told the planning board on Monday that 30 of those acres will be developed, if everything passes town approval as-is. Eighteen of those acres would be impervious, which means it would be a developed building or parking lot. 

The head of economic development for Amazon in New England, Jonathan Greeley, told the planning board that the Gorham warehouse would act as an organization center. Packages would be delivered there from Massachusetts and Connecticut via tractor-trailer, they’d be organized in Gorham, then delivered to customers by third parties such as the United States Postal Service and FedEx. 

Christina Bernardin, the vice president of development and construction for Bluewater Property Group, said to the planning board that the warehouse would operate 24/7, would generate about 170 jobs and would be a $20 million investment into the community. Bluewater Property group is the developer for the warehouse. 

But several residents spoke against the warehouse development on Monday. Many expressed concerns about the development's resulting increase in traffic, noise and light pollution. Others brought up concerns about Amazon’s low wages for its workers, saying that Amazon workers would not be able to afford to live in Gorham. Indeed lists average hourly wages for Amazon employees in Massachusetts as $17.15 per hour. 

Gorham resident Jackie Lortie added that she didn’t trust Amazon to correctly follow local ordinances. She referenced a situation in Warrenton, Virginia, where residents sued the town and Amazon not following proper processes when the town issued a special use permit to allow Amazon to build a data center. 

“The company promises significant economic development, but frequently delivers lower-than-anticipated benefits while increasing local traffic, pollution and housing costs,” Lortie said. 

Amazon officials told the planning board that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Army Corps of Engineers accepted its permits. There’s to be a hearing with the Maine Department of Transportation in June. 

A few other residents spoke in favor of the warehouse, saying the company could significantly contribute to the tax base, taking heat off residential taxpayers. Katherine Garrard, a Gorham resident, told the planning board that Gorham’s population is growing, and the town needs a bigger tax base to support the increased demand in public services. 

“Based on the presentation we’ve heard, the Amazon facility is a well-planned and professionally managed project that will create jobs, support local businesses and meaningfully expand the commercial and industrial tax base,” Garrard said.