Kennebunk Board of Selectmen voted to delay Central Maine Power’s request for a change in the zoning ordinance that would allow the company to bring a large transmission line upgrade project through town.
A public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 10, was continued from a joint public hearing in September between the planning board and selectmen.
The board voted unanimously to delay granting CMP’s request until the Public Utilities Commission has a chance to weigh in on the project, which is expected to run through 80 Maine communities.
No one spoke at the public hearing, though representatives from CMP and CEEK, or Citizens for Energy Equality in Kennebunk, were present at the meeting. For several years, CEEK has tried to get CMP to sell its Lower Village service area to Kennebunk Light and Power and members think the project could potentially help that effort.
The board must address CMP’s request again by mid March in order to get it to a referendum ballot at the June Town Meeting.
A zoning change is necessary because the town’s current ordinance has height restrictions that don’t allow for the proposed transmission lines. A public vote is also required.
Wayne Berry, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said he is concerned the ordinance change is not specific enough to buffers and setbacks and requested the planning board take another look at the project.