Sidney Says “Yes!” to New Amazon Distro Center in Central Maine

It looks like those Amazon orders will soon be getting to many of us a lot quicker than they have in recent years.

According to an article on the WGME website, Amazon is moving ahead with plans for a new distribution center on the Waterville-Sidney town line, along with a separate warehouse project in Gorham.

The company is proposing a 159,000-square-foot distribution facility off the Trafton Road exit, spanning the southern edge of Waterville and the northern edge of Sidney. Waterville has already approved the project, and the Sidney Planning Board signed off on its portion Monday night.

Sidney Select Board Administrative Assistant Bryan Finnemore said the planning board’s approval clears the way for Amazon to continue moving forward with the project.  Finnemore also said a petition currently circulating in town, which could lead to a vote on a development moratorium, does not specifically mention Amazon and is not expected to delay the company’s plans.

Still, some residents are pushing back. Sidney resident Chris Stonesifer, who supports the moratorium petition, said a temporary pause would give the town time to review its ordinances and determine whether they are strong enough to handle a project of this size and speed.

Concerns have also been raised by residents worried about traffic, noise, and the impact of a facility expected to operate around the clock.

One Sidney woman said she moved to town to escape those kinds of disruptions and fears the distribution center would dramatically change the character of the area.

Town leaders maintain the impact on Sidney would be limited.  Resident Pete Bucknam said the Sidney side of the project is expected to include employee parking, while tractor-trailer parking would remain on the Waterville side, adding that developers appear to be trying to reduce the project’s footprint while still bringing an estimated 150 to 200 jobs to the area.

There is no word on when the new facility would open.