Notice of Public Workshop to Discuss Proposed Land Use Ordinance

NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS

PROPOSED LAND USE ORDINANCE

The St. George Planning Board will hold a public workshop session on Tuesday, February 7, at 6:00 pm, at the Town Office on a proposed new Land Use Ordinance that would combine our existing various land uses ordinances into one consistent ordinance.  We will use the workshop to describe the new ordinance to the public, to seek public input, and to answer any questions the public may have.

The principal purposes of the proposed new ordinance are to make it easier for the public to find all land use requirements in one place, improve readability, resolve inconsistencies, and clear up ambiguities.  The proposed ordinance would not make major changes to the existing ordinances, but it would make a few changes to simplify the permitting process and to deal with issues, including gaps of coverage, that the Planning Board has encountered in the administration of existing ordinances.  These changes include:

●       A permit would no longer be required for nonstructural maintenance and repairs, such as painting, roofing, and siding.  (A permit is currently required for maintenance and repairs that cost $10,000 or more.)

●       Site plan review will not be required for alterations or improvements to nonresidential property that cost $50,000 or less and do not change walls, door openings, plumbing, electrical wiring, building footprint, or floor area.  A project of this kind will still require a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer.

●       Mobile home parks will be subject to requirements relating to size, density, and sewage disposal, as allowed by state law.  Mobile homes newly located on individual lots will be required to have permanent foundations, pitched roofs, and exterior siding of residential appearance, also as allowed by state law.

●       A recreational vehicle that is occupied as a residence for more than 120 days per year will require a permit and must meet all requirements for residential structures, including connecting with an adequate subsurface sewage disposal system.  This will be effective immediately for newly placed RVs and one year after the effective date of the ordinance for existing RVs.

●       Mineral extraction (defined as the removal of more than 100 cubic yards of soil, topsoil, loam, sand, gravel, clay, rock, peat, or other like material) is currently regulated only in the shoreland zone.  The proposed ordinance would extend regulation to the rest of the town, subject it to site plan review, and impose additional requirements.

●       Commercial agriculture will not be allowed in a commercial fisheries district in the shoreland zone.  This is consistent with existing ordinance provisions that prohibit other kinds of commercial uses, as well as residential uses, in those districts.

●       Campgrounds  and individual campsites located outside the shoreland zone will be required to comply with the same requirements relating to size, density, setback, and sewage disposal that currently apply in the shoreland zone.  The proposed ordinance will also clarify that campgrounds are subject to site plan review.

●       A new provision on shoreline stabilization is included in the proposed ordinance.

The proposed ordinance is available for inspection at the Town Office and by clicking here.  After this workshop, the Planning Board will incorporate public input into the final draft of the Land Use Ordinance. There will be a public hearing on the proposed ordinance in March, and it will be voted on at the Town Meeting on May 8, 2023.