Hampden panel considers house size Fowler’s Landing residents speak out against limiting seasonal housing

HAMPDEN – Several residents spoke out Wednesday night against a proposal before the planning board to limit the size of houses in the seasonal zone to 1,500 square feet.

The restriction was spelled out in a zoning amendment the Town Council referred to the board. Also before the board was an amendment the ordinance committee referred that specified the term “seasonal” would not limit the number of days per year a dwelling in the zone is occupied.

The goal of defining the town’s only seasonal zone, located at Fowler’s Landing on Hermon Pond, is to prevent construction of year-round homes – those with full septic systems, bathrooms, central heating and potable water sources – while allowing camp-style homes, even those occupied all year, board members said. Approximately 75 percent of Fowler’s Landing is home to year-round residents.

Both items were referred back in an attempt to come up with one amendment that adequately addresses the need to define the seasonal zone, which since the 1970s has not been adequately enforced, board members agreed.

“When you let this play out over a number of years, what you end up with is mayhem,” board Chairman Beric Deane said Wednesday.

Residents from Fowler’s Landing urged the board not to limit the size of their houses and questioned how the amendment would affect their taxes, further expansion, and other homes already above the 1,500-square-foot limit.

One woman complained about her neighbors on the landing who reportedly intentionally burned and razed their house and rebuilt it to twice its previous size.

“How did it get past inspection?” the woman asked, adding that it would be unfair for the town to allow such construction and then limit other residents’ expansions.

The board also was questioned as to what constitutes 1,500 square feet of “finished floor space,” as the amendment states.

In other business Wednesday, the board recommended that the Town Council approve a zoning amendment that would amend the town ordinance that covers wireless telecommunications facilities. Cell phone towers now are relegated to rural and industrial districts.

The change would allow smaller “microcell” facilities, made up of antennae and other equipment, in residential areas while controlling the size and appearance of the facility.

A proposal from Unicel to set up equipment on the Ballfield Road water tower prompted the town to consider the zoning change.

Also Wednesday, the board:

. Approved site plan revisions from the Maine Sports Complex LLC to cut 2,000 square feet from a previously approved 4,600-square-foot expansion.

. Referred to the ordinance committee a zoning amendment that would expand the number of districts where home businesses are allowed and change the accompanying site plan approval process.