Greenville to rezone five lots on East Road
GREENVILLE — Five adjacent lots on East Road, just after Stagecoach Road near the Greenville Municipal Airport, can be rezoned from the rural district into the rural development 2 district, following a special town meeting vote on Jan. 4.
The adjustment, to be made by the select board, will allow the lots to be built upon if purchased.
The expansion is in keeping with leaders’ efforts to grow the area economically while preserving its rural character.
“We’re just basically continuing that around the airport to allow some more business around the airport,” Code Enforcement Officer Ron Sarol said about the additions to the rural development 2 district.
Planning Board Chairperson John Contrentri said the board approved the proposal 5-0 last month. He said there are 18 abutters and a few questions about the proposal, but no one objected.
“We understand the plans are low impact,” he said.
Last month, Sarol said he did not want to divulge the specific development plan, but he also said it would be low impact and non-residential and would fit within the rural development 2 district guidelines.
“Basically we are doing it to facilitate a little more business around the airport,” Sarol said last month. He said an interested property buyer approached the town to see if the switch could be done before a purchase was made.
Per the town’s land use ordinance, the rural district preserves the specific quality of life features that make rural areas desirable in an area of the town that has traditionally been in forest and agricultural use, open fields, pastures and stands of trees. Large properties characterize the district.
This district is best suited to low-density single-family dwellings, farms, open space or forestlands. Natural resource-based industries, home occupations and other low-intensity recreational, commercial and residential uses are permitted with restrictions on size and impacts.
The rural development 2 district accommodates low- to medium-density rural residential and commercial development that requires larger lots than available within the village area, and a more rural setting. Natural resource-based activities, such as timber harvesting and agriculture, are important uses within this district.
This district addresses the need for regional growth, and accommodates the demand for second and seasonal residences, recreational accommodations and services for the transient population. It occupies more rural parts of the town where less intensive uses are desired.
The select board was also authorized to sell a public works truck. The 2015 model has a dump body and plow equipment and is being replaced by a brand new vehicle.
“We don’t have a price but we anticipate it will be over the threshold,” Select Chairperson Geno Murray said. The sale of town property for more than $5,000 needs the approval of residents.
Town Manager Mike Roy had said, after the board approved a municipal lease purchase through Androscoggin Bank for a new public works truck, the dealer the town is buying its new truck from indicated it had no interest in the old model as a trade-in.