YORK - Local residents will have their chance to weigh in on proposals including the rezoning of York Beach's village district and a new ordinance to protect historic properties in town this Monday, Feb. 25.
To prepare for that meeting, and to discuss other issues related to the town's future, the Board of Selectmen held a special work session with the Planning Board on Feb. 19.
The first item on the agenda was a report from Community Development Director Steve Burns on the issue of affordable housing, which divided the selectmen when a project was proposed by the Affordable-Workforce Housing Committee last year.
Selectmen Chairman Mike Estes noted that committee's efforts to bring forward an ordinance change and a single project to be managed by the York Housing Authority was one small piece of a solution for a big problem.
Burns highlighted the state's mandate to provide 11 affordable housing units in 2008, with qualifying household income defined by the state. He said that in addition to creating affordable housing projects, the town's options could also include examining funding sources to subsidize rent or mortgage costs for existing properties.
Selectman Dwight Bardwell said he would want to find out more about how subsidies would be handled before supporting such an idea, stating he has concerns about adding another layer of government to administer such a program.
Estes and Planning Board member David Woods pointed to the town's Residential Growth Ordinance as a factor in the cost of housing in York.
"It's a false appreciated value due to the growth ordinance," Woods said.
Estes said the growth ordinance prevents affordable housing from being built.
"If you don't want York Housing to build it, you have to fix the mechanism so somebody can build it," he said of the growth ordinance.
Other board members noted that local residents have continually supported the growth ordinance, and said zoning regulations should be changed to improve affordable housing options.
Bardwell said density bonuses and lot size reduction are probably necessary, and added he would be interested in reducing or eliminating certain fees to encourage the building of affordable housing.
"Let's find ways to remove some of the barriers to entry here," agreed Vice Chairman David Marshall, suggesting affordable housing be incorporated into existing neighborhoods rather than creating new projects. "It won't look like a segregated place or project... It will be right in the middle of somebody's neighborhood."
Selectman Ted Little said the prior proposal by the Affordable Workforce Housing Committee sought to use a density bonus to provide housing options, and asked the Planning Board whether that ordinance was being reviewed as part of the process.
"It's a multiplicity of approaches," said Planning Board Chairman Glen MacWilliams, adding, "I like the idea of community. I like the idea that you could actually create a community ... that takes advantage of density" with affordable housing or a mix of affordable and market-rate homes, green space and a pedestrian-friendly design.
Planning Board member Barrie Munro suggested such affordable housing opportunities could be incorporated into the York Beach Renaissance, which was also on the agenda for the workshop.
The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed new zoning for York Beach village on Feb. 25, as well as other zoning items slated for the ballot, including an ordinance to require a waiting period before historic homes can be torn down and a proposal to designate the Town Farm as an historic site.
During the discussion with the Planning Board on the York Beach proposal, Bardwell and other selectmen said they have been receiving a significant amount of negative feedback on the proposed changes for that area - especially from residents who are concerned about the way a new transition zone might impact their neighborhoods.
MacWilliams noted that those neighborhoods could change even with the current zoning, based on what is allowed in the beach.
The selectmen urged residents to attend the hearing and share their opinions on the York Beach plan and the other proposals for the May ballot.
For more on the zoning proposed for May, or upcoming board meeting agendas, visit http://www.yorkmaine.org/.
Also at the workshop, the board discussed Comprehensive Plan amendments for the November ballot. Shoreland Resource Officer Casey Dalton told the board members that the state has extended its deadline for its new shoreland rules for one more year, and updated them on concerns about water quality and the impact of private septic systems on the Cape Neddick River.
The selectmen agreed the issue of whether to extend sewer service in areas that are seeing negative impacts on water quality is an important one that warrants its own discussion, and will explore the issue in more detail at a future meeting.
