I was fortunate to have been part of a team that allowed me to participate in a wide variety of municipal efforts. As Biddeford’s planning engineer for 14 years prior to my employment with the Conservation District, I feel I have a very good handle on the planning process and further during times when there was transition in the position of city planner, I filled in as interim city planner. I also feel I can assist projects with my experience with the DEP permitting process. Q: How does that work relate to the role of city planner?Ī: Having been a part of the Long Creek team in my work at the Conservation District, I feel I can bring that knowledge into the project reviews process not just in the Long Creek Watershed but throughout the city. Most residents may not be aware, but Long Creek has many of its treatment systems in the Thomas Drive area of Westbrook. I assisted in inspections of construction projects, Department of Environmental Protection permit reviews and coordination of maintenance of the treatment systems that are all around the Maine Mall area, which are assisting in cleaning stormwater before it enters Long Creek. The Long Creek Management District is tasked with improving the water quality in Long Creek and its tributaries, which includes Blanchette Brook in Westbrook. What kind of projects did you work on?Ī: I was fortunate to be a part of the Long Creek Watershed Management work that is under construction around the Maine Mall area and extending into Westbrook. ![]() Q: Tell me about your work at the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District. I expect that perspective to be the same here, but it just happens that I actually do live here. I treated Biddeford as if it were my home and the decisions and direction that the Planning Office provided was based from that perspective. I do, however, approach the work of the Planning Office no different from when I worked for Biddeford. Q: Do you think being a resident of Westbrook has an impact on how you approach planning projects?Ī: I feel very invested in Westbrook, being a resident here for 15 years and involved in many community organizations. It was a bit surreal to come in right as Dirigo Plaza (with a half-million square feet of retail development) is heading into the Planning Board review phase, but having been through a similar project in my previous municipal employment, it does help me with process coordination. Was it a surprise to come on board during such a busy time for development?Ī: The state of Westbrook in an economic upturn is a familiar place to be in coming from Biddeford, where, when I started working for them 14 years ago as their planning engineer, we had 22-item Planning Board agendas. Q: You seem to have hit the ground running in Westbrook. The American Journal spoke with Franceschi this week about her role as city planner and what’s in the pipeline for development in the city. Prior to her hiring in Westbrook, she worked for the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District. Franceschi’s starting salary will be $61,992. She graduated from the University of Maine in 1996 with a bachelor’s in civil engineering, and worked as a planning engineer in Biddeford during an economic turnaround for the city. She grew up in Winslow, worked in Biddeford for 14 years, and settled in Westbrook 15 years ago. At the top of her list is the high-profile Dirigo Plaza shopping center slated for the Pike Industries gravel pit off Main Street.įranceschi, 42, says she’s comfortable in mill towns. However, she is welcoming the workload, and as a Westbrook resident she says she is invested in making sure the city’s significant projects are thoroughly vetted.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |