Ogunquit News
Ogunquit Planning Board hammers away at Comp Plan compliance issues
By C. Ayn Douglass
OGUNQUIT - The Ogunquit Planning Board believes it has completed drafting more than 90 percent of the zoning changes required to comply with the Comprehensive Plan to be ready in time for voter approval in November.The process, which has taken well over a year, continued at the Planning Board meeting Monday night, July 10, as the board wrangled over residential growth and deciding on an appropriate number to define what constitutes a subdivision that would require cluster housing west of Route 1.
With the rationale that cluster housing will ensure more open space for recreational use and wildlife habitat, J.T. Lockman, contracted by the town through the Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission, recommended the town cluster any subdivision of four or more units.
"Three would be difficult," he said, "and would require a homeowners association."
Drawing on an example of a development on the Josias River of four houses and two duplexes with half of the land left open, board member Brian Aromando said he didn't envision Ogunquit growth as moving in the direction of duplexes.
"Not that I have anything against duplexes, but the town isn't wanting to draw duplexes," he said. "Maybe five is the number."
Lockman said the town of Alfred adopted cluster housing with five units in April and Wells is re-thinking the number they are currently using of somewhere between 14 and 20.
"They're trying to bring that number down," he said.
The board agreed that with skyrocketing land prices it is important to strike a balance between equitability for the developer and complying with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. In Rural District 2, where the land is west of Route 1, four houses would have to go on 240,000 square feet and wetlands have to be deducted from that total. Lockman said most people's land is about one-third wet and that has to be taken out of the area calculation.
Aromando said while there are burdens associated with subdivision development, the town must consider ensuring open space for everyone in a finite area.
Planning Board member Don Wunder was uncomfortable with using four units as the definitive number and suggested five units.
"I'd like to walk before (we) run," he said. "I have a problem telling people they can't do what they want with their land, even though we must comply with the Comprehensive Plan."
Lockman agreed and Aromando said Ogunquit is at a point where it needs to find a number that's least invasive and most effective.
"It's much like zoning," he said. "You need to subscribe to the zoning of this town for mutual benefit. Three isn't fair to the developer. I hope five is effective. The board can reassess it later."
The controversial portion of the zoning amendment pertaining to hotels/motels in the General Business District 2 sent Lockman back to the drawing board for a modified approach.
Wunder believed that GBD 2 could be inundated with proposals for hotels and motels along the corridor, suspecting that as many as 70 or 80 lots could be transformed into lodging establishments.
"I really fear us moving to a whole town full of hotels and motels," he said. "I don't think a quarter-acre lot should have a square box on it with any number of rooms in it."
Lockman said it would be unlikely that would happen because, with the lot size restriction, it would be difficult for a large hotel chain to establish a hotel in the town without room on the lot for enough parking spaces.
Muriel Freedman said she thought the Planning Board should start working to create an ordinance to limit formula businesses, similar to the amendment passed last year limiting formula restaurants.
"This is frustrating for me," Lockman said. "I write what the board tells me to write and it turns out to be wrong again. This and formula business have been in discussion for a year."
Ultimately, the board was deadlocked and will look at comparative ordinances from the municipality of Hilton Head, S.C., which Lockman presented last fall to see if they can incorporate any of the language into Ogunquit's ordinances.
Contact Ogunquit reporter C. Ayn Douglass at cayndouglass@yorkindependent.net.
