Public opinion sought for new zoning subdistrict in townships

10 years ago

    CARIBOU — Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) and the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) are seeking public input about the creation of a new development subdistrict in the unorganized townships and plantations of Aroostook County.
    A series of public meetings to gain input are scheduled for April 13 at the Van Buren Community Center, April 14 at the Fort Kent Town Office, April 15 at the Department of Conservation Office in Ashland and April 16 at the Oakfield Community Center. All meetings are from 6-8 p.m.
    Should new businesses be able to locate in Aroostook County’s unorganized townships or plantations? Where should these new business be located? How easily can an existing business expand? These are the questions that the Aroostook County Community Guided Planning and Zoning Steering Committee have been working on for the past year. To help with this objective of assisting business expansion in the unorganized territories, the committee is considering the creation of an Aroostook County Small Business Development subdistrict.

    Committee members believe the creation of this subdistrict will play a positive and important role in the economy of the area. The subdistrict will enhance and diversify the economic opportunities for residents and visitors to Aroostook County. The expansion of commercial uses beyond traditional forestry and agriculture will help bring money and jobs to the County. Allowing easier and predicable land use regulations for small businesses, particularly those that manufacture value-added products, will also help stem outmigration.
    This subdistrict, said NMDC officials, is designed to encourage a wide range of small commercial, light manufacturing, and public facilities that may create impacts incompatible with residential uses, recreation uses or resource management. These businesses are typically larger than a permissible home-based business, but are not large-scale commercial or industrial developments. It will encourage the commercial expansion of facilities that are suitable for growth because of proximity to hub communities, service centers or major transportation corridors, despite generating some traffic, noise, odor and visual impacts.
    This subdistrict will be located in areas where it has no undue adverse impact on existing uses and resources.
    The following townships and plantations potentially qualify for the new subdistrict: St. John Plantation, Cross Lake Township, T17 R4/ Sinclair, Cyr Plantation, Hamlin, Connor Township, Winterville Plantation, Nashville Plantation, Garfield Plantation, Oxbow Plantation, E Township, Moro Plantation, Cary Plantation, Benedicta Township, Silver Ridge Township, Reed Plantation, Macwahoc Plantation, Molunkus Plantation, Hammond, T7 R5, T8 R5, T9 R5, T14 R6, and Glenwood Bancroft (to be de-organized as of July 1, 2015).     
    The committee utilized the four criteria below to determine where this new subdistrict could be easily located:
    • Contain a public road;
    • Contain or be close to populated areas;
    • Close to service centers, retail hubs or major employers;
    • Contain or be close to areas with substantial levels of structural development or land divisions.
    For more information, contact Jay Kamm, senior planner, Northern Maine Development Commission, at 498-8736 or email jkamm@nmdc.org.