Ogunquit News
Zoning changes will appear as one item on the November ballot
By C. Ayn Douglass
OGUNQUIT - It's all or nothing at all for voters as they face 14 zoning changes on the Nov. 7 warrant wholesaled together as one item.The Planning Board presented the amendments after months of work to bring the zoning ordinance into compliance with the Comprehensive Plan within a two-year period of time. Compliance is required by the state, although Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission member J. T. Lockman, who serves as the town's contract, has said not many towns have met that obligation.
The board wanted to send the changes to the voters as one item because the Comprehensive Plan was voted on as one item. In a previous meeting, selectmen requested the warrant item be written up as 14 separate articles, with Jon Speers saying voters should have the opportunity to pick and choose between them.
At last week's meeting, Speers changed his mind. The only reason, he said, that voters wouldn't opt to vote in favor of the ordinance changes is if they believed the Planning Board hadn't done what the plan had mandated.
Selectwoman Jackie Bevins said she wanted to see the items go through as 14 separate items because that was what she had heard from the public. Selectman Donato Tramuto suggested moving the article, in whatever form it might take, to the April warrant in the belief that some items, particularly those affecting hotel/motel expansion, still needed to be tweaked.
"I completely disagree," Speers said. "We've discussed this ad nauseum."
People, he said, don't pay attention until the 11th hour, and voters have to be involved.
Resort owner Bob Hansen agreed. Last April, two items were pulled because the Planning Board wanted to work on them some more.
"They worked hard to get people pro-active on this," he said. "Putting it off is no good."
Town Clerk Judy Shaw-Kagiliery told the board they had to make a decision that night.
"This is the deadline," she said. "This has to go to the printer. Tonight is the night. Tonight or it goes to April town meeting or another town meeting."
With the pressure on, the board elected to send the amendment through as one article.
The 14 amendments cover all facets of the Comprehensive Plan related to growth, including resource protection, open space, timber harvesting, expansion of motels and hotels, protection of archaeological resources and use of alternative energy. Copies of the new amendments are available for voters at the land use office.
