Moviegoers buy snacks in September 2022 before watching “Grease” on the second-to-last night of the season at the Skowhegan Drive-In Theatre at 201 Waterville Road. The property is being proposed for a mobile home park. Morning Sentinel file

SKOWHEGAN — Nearly a year after the Skowhegan Drive-In Theatre closed, a developer who is buying the property has submitted preliminary plans to build up to 40 lots at the site for a mobile home park.

The Skowhegan Planning Board discussed general plans for the site Tuesday night at a pre-application review, which gives board members the chance to ask questions well before the board reviews and votes on final plans.

Skowhegan-based A&L Properties Inc. submitted the subdivision application for the 11.23-acre parcel at 201 Waterville Road.

“They’re in a purchase and sale agreement for the Skowhegan Drive-In and movie theater and so forth and trying to develop that into a mobile home park,” Randy Butler of Fairfield-based Dirigo Engineering, representing A&L Properties Inc., said. “The target is 30 to 40 lots.”

The drive-in closed in September 2023 after 70 years in business. Its previous owner, Don Brown, told the Morning Sentinel then that the theater was being sold for $300,000 to Harvey Austin of Skowhegan.

Austin, a member of the Planning Board, recused himself from Tuesday’s conversation.

Moviegoers gather in July 2020 for opening night of the Maine International Film Festival at the Skowhegan Drive-In Theatre at 201 Waterville Road. The property is being proposed for a mobile home park. Morning Sentinel file

Austin said by telephone Wednesday he did not buy the property, but his daughter and son-in-law are now involved in the transaction.

Aaron Crocker of Skowhegan, Austin’s son-in-law, is listed as the contact person for A&L Properties Inc. on several documents submitted to the Planning Board. Reached by telephone Wednesday, Crocker declined to comment on the project.

The sale price is redacted in the agreement on file with the town. The theater has been listed for $319,000 in recent months by Rizzo Mattson, Realtors of Augusta.

Butler of Dirigo Engineering said at Tuesday’s meeting that materials submitted to the Planning Board showed a preliminary concept. The board reviewed a map showing 32 lots in the subdivision.

Moviegoers gather in July 2020 for opening night of the Maine International Film Festival at the Skowhegan Drive-In Theatre at 201 Waterville Road. The property is being proposed for a mobile home park. Morning Sentinel file

The project needs a stormwater permit from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection because of the amount of impervious area, Butler said.

Board members asked how stormwater runoff is to be handled, since they are aware of runoff issues in the area of the property. Butler said options to manage stormwater include soil filters and wet ponds.

Board member Jeff McCabe said he supported more housing being built in Skowhegan.

“This is a pretty important link in Skowhegan to have this additional housing,” McCabe said at Tuesday’s meeting. “You know, you see 32 lots, and obviously I’m excited to see it and make sure that we can make this as feasible as possible. And also address the stormwater.”