Commissioners review community-guided
planning and zoning initiative
By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The Aroostook County Commissioners heard from two members of the Department of Conservation Land Use Planning Commission, formerly known as the Land Use Regulation Commission, regarding community-guided planning and zoning at their meeting held in the Caribou Courthouse on March 20.
Hugh Coxe, LUPC senior planner, and Samantha Horn Olsen, LUPC planning division manager, updated the commissioners on the initiative, which is geared toward improving the effectiveness of managing land use in unorganized territories by allowing more locally guided and proactive planning for those areas. This is a result of legislation that concluded that there should be some changes in how permitting is done and that there is a necessity for changes in criteria for zoning. In the past, permitting and zoning were done in a reactive way. LUPC decided to begin implementing these changes on a region-by-region basis with three areas, Washington County, Aroostook County and the Western mountains region, rising to the top of the list. LUPC solicited letters of interest from organizations who would like to be instrumental in the planning. Fifteen to 17 letters were received, some asking to participate and some showing support for the project. Aroostook County was chosen as the first region to begin the process with the Northern Maine Development Commission as the convener.
The process will begin with LUPC holding a series of three workshops to facilitate forming a community-guided planning and zoning plan. Frank O’Hara, a strategic planning specialist, will be the facilitator, and there will also be input from Alison Truesdale and Billie MacLean, who both have planning, permit and compliance experience. Nick Livesay, the executive director of the land use project, will also be involved.
The first of the workshops is anticipated to be held in late April with the other two following on a monthly basis. After the workshops, NMDC will take the lead in the community guided planning and zoning with input from LUPC as a resource.
According to Coxe, the definite outcome of the initiative has yet to be determined, but some possibilities include changes in zoning districts and land-use standards. NMDC’s proposed timeframe for completion is two and a half years. The end result will need LUPC approval to be enacted.
Commissioner Norman Fournier expressed concern over the amount of work that will go into the project and the chance that it will then be denied by LUPC. Coxe advised that that is the reason for LUPC’s and other organization’s presence during the process, to make sure that all parties involved are aware of what is being done so there will be no surprises when the project is brought to the commission for approval.
Coxe and Olsen stressed to the commissioners that a lot of faith is being put into the facilitative process. They are confident that NMDC staff have the necessary background to effectively put the community-guided plan into place. The other regions at the top of the list may begin work on their plan after Aroostook gets their process under way, and LUPC is hoping to use the outcome from The County’s workshops to help the other areas.
The Commissioners thanked Coxe and Olsen for their time and advised they appreciated being kept abreast of the situation and the fact that their support was valued.
Unanimous approval for District 1 and 3 Finance Committee members Jackie Bradley of Easton, Malachi Anderson of Woodland and Nelson Jandreau of Madawaska was granted by the Commissioners, along with approval for positions in Sheriff’s Office of Andrew Tomah as full-time corrections officer, Carol J. Grant as part-time cook, and the re-commissioning of part-time Deputy Sheriff Stacey Mahan of Limestone.
County Administrator Doug Beaulieu the updated the commissioners on the legislative confirmation hearing that confirmed Paul Underwood’s re-appointment as a commissioner, among others, and recent proposed legislation that was brought before the Maine Legislature that he felt may have been of interest to the commissioners.
Beaulieu also reported that North Lakes Fire and Rescue was, unfortunately, turned down for a grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation for Jaws of Life equipment and also did not receive a federal grant for air packs.
Fournier then updated the commissioners on a meeting he attended for the Maine County Commissioners Association/Risk Pool, of which he is a member of the board. He discussed the fact that the investment policy of the Association will be re-evaluated as there was debate on whether the funds should be placed in a more high-risk plan or remain in the current conservative plan. Fournier concluded his update by advising of upcoming MCCA meetings and bylaws updates.
The next County Commissioners meeting will be held Tuesday, April 2, in Houlton.
