York Town News
Growth cap bill has hearing in Augusta
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Rep. Windol Weaver, R-York, is seen here testifying on behalf of a bill he co-sponsored to address the impact of the state's new growth law on York.
Courtesy photo
YORK - With the deadline for compliance with the state's new law governing residential growth ordinances now just a few months away, Rep. Windol Weaver, R-York, spoke out recently in Augusta in support of a bill proposed to minimize the mandate's impact on the town.
Weaver testified before the Natural Resources Committee on April 3 on legislation he co-sponsored with the full backing of the town's legislative delegation and the support of many local officials.
Legislative Document 1108, which is entitled "An Act to Change the Impact of the Rate of Growth Ordinance Limit on the Town of York," provides that the building permit limit in the town is calculated by using the number of permits issued to the general public and not including the number of permits issued pursuant to certain exemptions to the residential growth ordinance, according to information provided by Weaver last week.
The town has had a growth cap in place for five years, most recently renewed on May 20, 2006, when 3,007 local residents cast ballots in favor of the cap and 796 voted against it. A second question on last year's ballot asked if voters wanted to increase the annual limit from 84 to 115 new residences, but that request was rejected by a vote of 1,607 to 2,186.
Weaver said it is apparent from the most recent election what the people of York want in a growth ordinance.
"A majority of York citizens are in favor of a growth cap and feel they should be able to establish development limits," he told the committee. "I ask that you keep this in mind, as you discuss how this bill will be reported out of committee."
The state, however, subsequently approved its own new set of requirements for municipal growth ordinances, and Town Planner Steve Burns has been working to bring York's ordinance into compliance with the state law, which will go into effect this July. Voters will decide at the ballot in May whether to adopt those changes to meet the state mandate.
"Due to differing interpretations of state law, legislation was introduced this session to clarify the calculation of York's building permit limit," Weaver noted in a release on his recent testimony before the Natural Resources Committee.
A work session for the legislation has been scheduled for this Thursday, April 12, at 1 p.m.
For more on actions being taken by the Maine Legislature, visit www.maine.gov.
