Greenville Planning Board continues work on multiple ordinances

GREENVILLE — The Greenville Planning Board has been busy working on several ordinances to get these ready for a vote at the annual town meeting on Monday, June 3 if applicable. The board’s work continued during a meeting on April 17.

Board Chair John Contreni said the land use ordinance is being updated to comply with state regulations on housing density.

Code Enforcement Officer Ron Sarol said he has the language changes concerning an ordinance change for properties that share a common wall, such as duplexes, and this will be presented at the next planning board meeting on Wednesday, May 1.

Contreni said after May 1 the board will host an informational meeting for the public. “We don’t have to bring it before town meeting on June 3 because it’s mandated by the state,” he said.

“Reducing the property lot size from 10,000 to 7,500 square feet, that certainly has to go before the town,” Contreni said.

Last month the planning board formally voted to reduce the minimum lot size for a dwelling from 10,000 to 7,500 square feet.

Decreasing the minimum lot size to 7,500 square feet will enable the town to increase the density of homes on properties which will help with the density compliance requirements of LD 2003, “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions” signed by Gov. Janet Mills in April 2022.

Per guidance on the act from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the law is designed to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers to housing production in Maine, while preserving local ability to create land use plans and protect sensitive environmental resources. Greenville has until July 1 to implement LD 2003.

The act guidance has sections relevant to municipalities, identifying amended sections of state law. Amendments include allowing for additional density for affordable housing developments in certain areas; generally requiring that municipalities allow between two and four housing units per lot where housing is permitted; requiring that municipalities allow accessory dwelling units to be located on the same lot as a single-family home under certain conditions; and requiring that the state establish statewide and regional housing production goals and set forth ways in which local governments can coordinate with that goal.

At a December 6 special town meeting, residents approved the creation of a multigenerational housing district on Spruce Street. The purpose of the new district is to permit developers to build from 22 to 28 housing units on the 5.5-acre property.

The planning board, which presented the ordinance, sees increased housing density as a tool to create more housing units in the town at lower cost and, thus, be more accessible to future long-term renters and homeowners. The board believes that more new housing that is affordable will attract additional residents to town adding to Greenville’s workforce and overall economic well-being.

LD 2003 allows for additional density for affordable housing developments as well as the addition of between two and four dwelling units per lot where residential uses are permitted. The law also allows “accessory dwelling units” on the same lot as a single-family home, and these are all being included in the forthcoming ordinance proposals.

Sarol had said there would be a need for language to address setbacks, such as for someone wanting to build a duplex.

The planning board is also working on a fence ordinance for Greenville, in response to residents’ requests to help avoid potential conflicts between neighbors concerning fence issues. Also, the state’s mandate to increase housing density in Maine cities and towns will likely focus local attention on fences.

Planning board members have looked at other ordinances from around the state and these suggestions have been incorporated into the fourth draft of the ordinance. This document is scheduled to be reviewed at the May 1 meeting. 

In other business, the planning board reviewed an application from Michele Weirich for one of two vacant alternate positions. Contreni said the planning board reviews these applications and then passes the candidate’s name along to the select board for formal appointment. 

“The alternate, pending select board approval, would sit in for one of us if we were ill and couldn’t attend the meeting and the alternate would have voting rights if there were just four of us or three of us,” Contreni said. He said the alternates can attend meetings regularly, and are encouraged to do so, but would not vote with all five planning board members present.

Those interested in applying for the other position can do so on the town website at https://greenvilleme.com/boards/planning-board.