Selectmen tackle full agenda (Printed Feb. 15, 2008)
By Stowell P. Watters
Staff Writer
A recent meeting of Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen brought much discussion concerning the planning board’s proposed changes to contract zoning in town as well as the development of a board of assessment review.
Changes to Article 13 of the Land Use Ordinance.
Following what Chairman Mathew Lanigan called “concern, not enough discussion and a proposal that many saw as too concrete” in reference to a failed November 2007 referendum question that would have allowed the owner of an inn at Goose Rocks Beach to enter into a contract zone with the town, the Kennebunkport Planning Board proposed a revised wording of Article 13 – concerning contract zoning.
“The intention has been to move forward and find a clearer wording for contract zoning,” Lanigan said.
Selectman Sheila Mathews-Bull said she has heard many comments from planning board members concerning citizens who felt “in the dark” about contract zoning.
Planning board Chairman, David Kling, said revisions will require spot-zoning applicants to attend a joint meeting between the town’s selectmen and planning board members. This joint meeting, Kling said, would serve to better “air out” the issue. Lanigan verified the need for both groups to be on the same page.
“The planning board is strict, they look at ordinances, guidelines, rules. We (the selectmen) look at things on a more personal basis, and together I think we benefit the town as a whole,” Lanigan said.
Kling supplied selectmen with the revised Article 13 which contained wording changes, a reworked application process and changes to the index – all part of what he called “a general clarification.”
“Cleaner ordinances are better for everyone, it makes it easier for us to do our job,” he said.
Town Manager Larry Mead detailed the new procedure – as it would be if backed by the selectmen and later voted in by the town.
First, he said, the applicant would submit their proposal for a contract zone to him. Then, unlike the current process, the applicant would be required to make a presentation during a joint meeting of the selectmen and planning board. Following a preliminary site plan review by the planning board, a series of public meetings would be scheduled “for the benefit of the public,” Mead said.
Following a full site plan review, the planning board would convene and make its recommendation to the board of selectmen, who would in turn bring the issue to a town wide vote. Upon the acceptance of the zone change the planning board would then have to complete a site review before any physical changes could be made to the property.
One revision Kling called “risky,” and Lanigan called “a gamble” is the planning board could still override a town wide vote. The town is only allowed to vote on whether or not to create a contract zone, however, Kling said, the planning board has final say as to whether or not the project moves forward based on their final site plan review.
Board of assessment review
Mead proposed the creation of a board of assessment review in response to the recent town wide acceptance of a revaluation. During the selectmen’s meeting he provided the draft language for the administrative code that would create such a group, a step he called “necessary,” because it negates the need to involve a county commissioner – a service the town would pay for to review all assessed properties.
“We know we are going to have some residents who will appeal, it is inevitable,” Mead said. “It just makes sense to create our own board of assessment review.”
While Mead proposed to create a three-member, voter-approved board, Selectman Kristi Bryant suggested increasing the size to five positions as indicative of the varied geographical locations in the town.
Mead said although the revaluation would give the proposed board a hefty workload, their duties would be minimal following their duties concerning the town wide property assessment. The official responsibility of the board would be to “hear and decide all appeals properly taken from the refusal of the municipal assessors to make such property tax abatements as are asked for,” according to Mead’s draft.
The revaluation, although the board of selectmen has yet to choose an assessing company, will began no later than May 1, according to Mead. He said that assessment will be finished by June 2009 if all goes as planned.
Public restroom
During public forum Kennebunkport resident Chris Perry voiced his concern regarding the lack of public facilities at the public beach area of Goose Rocks. His concern – stemming from the recent town wide referendum vote to decline a contract zone that would have gifted the town a permanent public restroom facility and Kennebunkport resident Bill Leffler’s message to the town that his property will no longer be the site of a public temporary bathroom facility – is that the town has given up on the issue.
Mead said it was not the case and that Kennebunkport Town Attorney Amy Tchao is currently “preparing an opinion addressing the public facility need.” He said Tchao is examining the right of way on the north end of the beach owned by Kennebunk and looking at whether or not a temporary or permanent facility could be put there.
Lanigan said he would like to hear more feedback from the town on the matter.
Reimbursement for Recreation Department work
Director of Parks and Recreation, Carol Cook, asked the board of selectmen to reimburse her husband Steven Cook $3,700 for the 370 hours he volunteered in the construction of a warming hut at the park in Crow Hill. After a 5 to 0 vote the board approved the payment for work Carol Cook said “shows Steven [had] gone above and beyond.”
Steve Cook, in addition to his full-time job, acted as foreman and overall “hard worker” according to Carol Cook, and the Parks and Recreation Department unanimously agreed that he should be reimbursed for the time he put into the project.
To contact Stowell P. Watters, call 282-4337 ext. 219 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.
Staff Writer
A recent meeting of Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen brought much discussion concerning the planning board’s proposed changes to contract zoning in town as well as the development of a board of assessment review.
Changes to Article 13 of the Land Use Ordinance.
Following what Chairman Mathew Lanigan called “concern, not enough discussion and a proposal that many saw as too concrete” in reference to a failed November 2007 referendum question that would have allowed the owner of an inn at Goose Rocks Beach to enter into a contract zone with the town, the Kennebunkport Planning Board proposed a revised wording of Article 13 – concerning contract zoning.
“The intention has been to move forward and find a clearer wording for contract zoning,” Lanigan said.
Selectman Sheila Mathews-Bull said she has heard many comments from planning board members concerning citizens who felt “in the dark” about contract zoning.
Planning board Chairman, David Kling, said revisions will require spot-zoning applicants to attend a joint meeting between the town’s selectmen and planning board members. This joint meeting, Kling said, would serve to better “air out” the issue. Lanigan verified the need for both groups to be on the same page.
“The planning board is strict, they look at ordinances, guidelines, rules. We (the selectmen) look at things on a more personal basis, and together I think we benefit the town as a whole,” Lanigan said.
Kling supplied selectmen with the revised Article 13 which contained wording changes, a reworked application process and changes to the index – all part of what he called “a general clarification.”
“Cleaner ordinances are better for everyone, it makes it easier for us to do our job,” he said.
Town Manager Larry Mead detailed the new procedure – as it would be if backed by the selectmen and later voted in by the town.
First, he said, the applicant would submit their proposal for a contract zone to him. Then, unlike the current process, the applicant would be required to make a presentation during a joint meeting of the selectmen and planning board. Following a preliminary site plan review by the planning board, a series of public meetings would be scheduled “for the benefit of the public,” Mead said.
Following a full site plan review, the planning board would convene and make its recommendation to the board of selectmen, who would in turn bring the issue to a town wide vote. Upon the acceptance of the zone change the planning board would then have to complete a site review before any physical changes could be made to the property.
One revision Kling called “risky,” and Lanigan called “a gamble” is the planning board could still override a town wide vote. The town is only allowed to vote on whether or not to create a contract zone, however, Kling said, the planning board has final say as to whether or not the project moves forward based on their final site plan review.
Board of assessment review
Mead proposed the creation of a board of assessment review in response to the recent town wide acceptance of a revaluation. During the selectmen’s meeting he provided the draft language for the administrative code that would create such a group, a step he called “necessary,” because it negates the need to involve a county commissioner – a service the town would pay for to review all assessed properties.
“We know we are going to have some residents who will appeal, it is inevitable,” Mead said. “It just makes sense to create our own board of assessment review.”
While Mead proposed to create a three-member, voter-approved board, Selectman Kristi Bryant suggested increasing the size to five positions as indicative of the varied geographical locations in the town.
Mead said although the revaluation would give the proposed board a hefty workload, their duties would be minimal following their duties concerning the town wide property assessment. The official responsibility of the board would be to “hear and decide all appeals properly taken from the refusal of the municipal assessors to make such property tax abatements as are asked for,” according to Mead’s draft.
The revaluation, although the board of selectmen has yet to choose an assessing company, will began no later than May 1, according to Mead. He said that assessment will be finished by June 2009 if all goes as planned.
Public restroom
During public forum Kennebunkport resident Chris Perry voiced his concern regarding the lack of public facilities at the public beach area of Goose Rocks. His concern – stemming from the recent town wide referendum vote to decline a contract zone that would have gifted the town a permanent public restroom facility and Kennebunkport resident Bill Leffler’s message to the town that his property will no longer be the site of a public temporary bathroom facility – is that the town has given up on the issue.
Mead said it was not the case and that Kennebunkport Town Attorney Amy Tchao is currently “preparing an opinion addressing the public facility need.” He said Tchao is examining the right of way on the north end of the beach owned by Kennebunk and looking at whether or not a temporary or permanent facility could be put there.
Lanigan said he would like to hear more feedback from the town on the matter.
Reimbursement for Recreation Department work
Director of Parks and Recreation, Carol Cook, asked the board of selectmen to reimburse her husband Steven Cook $3,700 for the 370 hours he volunteered in the construction of a warming hut at the park in Crow Hill. After a 5 to 0 vote the board approved the payment for work Carol Cook said “shows Steven [had] gone above and beyond.”
Steve Cook, in addition to his full-time job, acted as foreman and overall “hard worker” according to Carol Cook, and the Parks and Recreation Department unanimously agreed that he should be reimbursed for the time he put into the project.
To contact Stowell P. Watters, call 282-4337 ext. 219 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.
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