Council to revamp zoning

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — After much discussion during their last two meetings town councilors have decided to take a new approach to defining which uses will be permitted in various zones in Houlton.
    The Planning Board had drafted principal uses for a land use chart. As review began during the meeting on April 12 and continued Monday evening, councilors expressed some concern over gradual introduction of commercial uses into principally residential areas, which among other things could affect home values and aesthetics of the area. Also expressed as a concern were home-based businesses that may or may not draw excess traffic to a particular residential neighborhood such as a home-based auto repair shop.
    To use their time more efficiently and in an effort to be more precise, the councilors will review the uses and then where they will be permitted. Doug Hazlett, town manager, said: “what we are going to do is take the 135 permitted uses and break them into four groups. So, we will only look at about 40 uses at each of the next four meetings to decide what that use is and where that use will be allowed to happen. The Planning Board has been at this for two or three years so the council cannot do it in two meetings.”
    Hazlett said previously the council was looking at each zone and what was appropriated for the zone. “Now we are turning that around. We are going to say there are roughly 135 permitted uses that apply differently by each use. We are going to take each use and then say ‘define this use.’ And, based on that, see what zones are permitted to have such a use.”
Bids accepted
    The council accepted the following bids: $11,614 from Atlantic Communications, Inc. of Hermon for the police department’s radio dispatch desktop console; $1.68 and $2.03 per square yard from Aroostook Asphalt Applicators of Presque Isle for chip sealing on various roadways; $83.50 per ton from Steelstone Industries of Houlton for asphalt street paving on various roadways; $7,566.49 form Jackett Enterprises of Houlton for hand-placed pavement markings throughout the town; and $9,483.30 from Jackett Enterprises for machine placed pavement markings throughout the town.
Other business
    The council accepted a grant of $5,040 from the Bureau of Highway Safety for seatbelt, speed and OUI enforcement and a $2,500 grant from the Maine Community Foundation Pinetree Fund for the community park and riverfront project. (See story Page Four)
    The council approved the following applications: renewal of a liquor license for Courtyard Café, an application by Leigh Dow to operated Dow’s Taxi, and a renewal for Houlton Cab Incorporated to operate three taxis.
    The Standards of Conduct, the Residential Antidisplacement & Relocation Assistance Plan, and the Fair Housing Resolution were reaffirmed.
    The next meeting of the council will be held in council chambers, 21 Water Street, Monday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m.