Neighbors file lawsuit opposing development

A controversial plan to turn an abandoned laundry into an apartment complex has ended up in court over the city’s refusal to stop the development.

The Palm Street Citizens Committee filed a complaint this week in Penobscot County Superior Court asking a judge to overturn last month’s decision by the Zoning Board of Appeals and prevent the project from proceeding.

The group opposes an 11-apartment project proposed by James Brooker, claiming that it would crowd the area and increase traffic. For a year Brooker has sought to build an apartment complex on two abutting parcels between Palm Street and Parkview Avenue.

The parcel on Palm Street contains a garage that Brooker most recently used for his contracting business. The Palm Street parcel contains the former Thoro-Clean Laundry Inc.

If Brooker prevails, he plans to demolish the garage and build an apartment building, and to demolish part of the laundry and convert the remainder into apartments.

The appeals board last month turned away the neighborhood group. The basis of its appeal both before that panel and in the court challenge is a zoning ordinance provision that would forbid Brooker from using the building if restoration costs exceeded 75 percent of its assessed value. The citizens group claims that the project far exceeds that limit.

The court documents were filed on behalf of John Lair Jr. and the committee by the group’s attorney, J. Hilary Billings.