Land Use Changes in Bowdoinham
By Todd Woofenden- Chair- Land Use Planning Committee
In 2012, the Town of Bowdoinham will celebrate its 250th year. The town has seen two and half centuries of change, supporting farming, ship building, mills, river trades, the timber industry, sporting and recreation, and small businesses. As the population, demographics and economy of southern Maine grow and change, Bowdoinham, too, is growing and changing. The 2012 Project seeks to help the town manage growth through the development of a new set of local ordinances, so that as we approach our 250th year we will be well prepared to preserve the characteristics of our town that make it a nice place to live, while continuing to support a vibrant and community-centered local economy.
The Bowdoinham Land Use Planning Committee is actively working on developing a new set of land use ordinances for the Town.
These changes will affect everyone who works or lives in town, whether you own land in Bowdoinham, live in Bowdoinham, run or plan to run a business in Bowdoinham or work in Bowdoinham.
What's Going to Change?
The Committee is planning potentially significant changes in many areas of land use, including site plan review, performance standards, construction requirements and allowed uses. Our current set of land use ordinances is outdated and grossly deficient in many areas. All changes must be approved by the residents of Bowdoinham. The Committee's job is to develop a proposal for the Town's consideration. You, the Town residents, must vote to adopt the changes for them to take effect.
When will the Changes Take Place?
The Committee's goal is to have some components of a new land use ordinance ready for the Town to vote on at the 2008 Town Meeting. These will probably be limited to site plan review and shoreland zoning changes. Further proposed changes will be presented at subsequent Town Meetings.
How can I Get More Information, or Get Involved?
Visit the Town website frequently, for news.
Attend Committee and Subcommittee meetings. All of them are public, and you are welcome to attend.
Ask questions. The Committee welcomes input and question via email, letter, or in person at public input sessions. We want to hear from you.
Get involved. We have four active subcommittees that meet regularly.
New Subcommittees of the Bowdoinham Land Use Planning Committee Formed.
The Bowdoinham Land Use Committee has formed four new working subcommittees. Each subcommittee is responsible for researching a different component of land use, and reporting to the Committee.
VILLAGE DISTRICT SUBCOMMITTEE-
MEMBERS: Paul Baines (Chair), Mary Stride, Tony Cox, Kay Evans, Sara Stapler, and Kathy Gallant. Participants: Cindy Lamoreau, Bill Shippen and Ben Long
The Village District Subcommittee is responsible for looking at the current make-up of the village area of town, identifying goals and constraints, and determining if one or more Village Districts are needed.
SITE PLAN REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE
Members: Brian Smith (Chair), Paul Beltramini, Tony Cox, Billie Oakes, Richard Morin, Jim McPherson and Brent Zachau. Participants: George Christopher, Brant Miller and Kay Evans
Site Plan Review is required when a new business comes to town or when an existing business expands. The Site Plan Review Subcommittee is responsible for reviewing the current Site Plan Review Ordinance, listing goals and objectives, and proposing ways the goals can be accomplished through approval criteria and performance standards.
SHORELAND ZONING SUBCOMMITTEE
Members: Richard Morin (Vice-Chair), Todd Woofenden, Ellen Baum, Bill Shippen, Jim McPherson
Participants: Paul Beltramini, Kay Evans, Ben Long and Billie Oakes
The Shoreland Zoning Subcommittee is responsible for considering the Town's shoreland zoning ordinance by reviewing our existing shoreland ordinances and the state's mandated minimum shoreland zoning ordinance, considering goals and constraints, and proposing methods for achieving goals in shoreland zoning.
RESIDENTIAL/AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT SUBCOMMITTEE
Members: Todd Woofenden (Chair), Brant Miller, Cindy Lamoreau, George Christopher, Richard Morin, and Billie Oakes
Participants: Ben Long
The Residential/Agricultural District Subcommittee is responsible for considering areas of town other than the Village area and Shoreland zone. The subcommittee will consider goals and constraints, and propose methods for achieving the goals including creation one or more districts or overlay districts and/or other methods or approaches.
Part of the work of all four subcommittees is to receive public input throughout the process. If you have questions, concerns or suggestions for any of these subcommittees, please voice them at a public input meeting, or in a letter or email.
Upcoming Subcommittee Meetings
All meetings will be held at the Coombs Municipal Building at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise mentioned. All meetings are open to the public. Keep updated on the Land Use Planning Committee's work at www.bowdoinham.com
Land Use Project Committee
Thursday, March 13
Thursday, April 10
Thursday, May 8
Thursday, June 12
Residential/Agricultural District Subcommittee
Monday March 10
Monday March 31
Monday, April 21
Village District Subcommittee
Wednesday, Feb. 20
Wednesday, March 19
Wednesday, April 9
Wednesday, April 30
Shoreland Zoning Subcommittee
Thursday, February 21
Thursday, March 6
Thursday, March 20
Thursday, April 3
Site Plan Review Subcommittee
March 18th
April 1st
April 8th
April 16th (Wednesday) – Public Informational Meeting
April 29th
May 6th
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