Searsport voters approve land use ordinance

SEARSPORT – The adage that every vote counts proved true at town meeting when residents approved a land use ordinance by a single vote.

Proponents and opponents of the ordinance packed the Searsport District High School gymnasium Saturday. When the ballots were counted and recounted, the ordinance won by the same tally, a vote of 145-144. Two blank ballots were recorded.

A second article calling for abolition of the town’s comprehensive plan went down to defeat with a vote of 150-121.

When moderator Peter Mason announced, “We now have a comprehensive plan and a zoning ordinance,” after votes were counted, those favoring both of the documents erupted with a round of applause while those who did not started heading for the exits.

The land use ordinance marks a historic change in Searsport because it is the first time the town has adopted any form of zoning.

Years on the drawing board, the zoning ordinance was designed to implement the goals and policy recommendations of the comprehensive plan, which voters approved five years ago and amended last year.

The ordinance was designed to manage growth and development. It divides the town into specific residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial districts for planning purposes.

Although residents were assured that the ordinance will not change the status quo because existing non-conforming uses were grandfathered, some in the crowd were not so sure.

“It says it will control urban sprawl; what it does is promote urban sprawl,” Arthur Koch told the crowd. “I don’t think that this town is ready, willing or able to support the kind of development this plan is allowing.”

Richard Desmarais, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said the lack of a land use ordinance hampered the town’s prospects for economic development.

He said developers considering making a major investment in a community tend to shy away when they learn there are no restrictions on land use or planning guidelines. He also said that land use ordinances were necessary to qualify for state and federal grants.

Desmarais noted that the cargo terminal at Mack Point provided the town with “a roadway to the world,” and that in order to take advantage of the changing marketplace, established planning controls needed to be in place.

He also pointed out that both the comprehensive plan and the land use ordinance will be reviewed each year and can be amended.

“We need the land use ordinance and the comprehensive plan to compete on a level playing field,” he said. “Give us the tools to do the job; we’re fighting in a global economy. If you want good paying jobs to come here, we need the land use ordinance.”

Once the land use ordinance was approved, residents took up the article asking that the comprehensive plan be rescinded. Ann Crimaudo pointed out that 80 percent of Maine’s communities have comprehensive plans in place, and there was no record of any of them ever voting to rescind the plan.

“I would think that if they weren’t working and had been causing a problem, I think somebody would have said ‘Let’s get rid of it,'” Crimaudo told the gathering. The measure passed easily.

The land use plan wasn’t the only issue to receive a one-vote margin. When residents took a vote on whether to raise $500 for the Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice, the measure failed by a vote of 55-54.

Residents also rejected articles requiring that any future ordinances be voted on at the annual town meeting, changing the method of selecting members to the planning board from appointment to elections, and changing the terms of the planning board, zoning board of appeals and board of assessment review from five years to three years.

“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” said John Moran.

An article requesting $24,000 from surplus to cover the cost of installing fences around the transfer station and town garage also won voter approval.

Town Manager James Gillway said state law requires that transfer stations be fenced, and that the fence around the town garage would limit the town’s liability.

Gillway pointed out that a 42-lot subdivision had been approved across the street from the garage, and that children would likely be compelled to use the town’s sand pile for a play area.

“I’m just fearful that if we don’t take some action to keep the kids out, we could be looking at a tragedy in the future,” Gillway said.

Residents passed all the spending articles as recommended by the selectmen and the budget advisory committee.

In order to lower this year’s tax rate, residents voted to take $200,000 from the town’s estimated $1 million surplus and apply it to the budget as revenue.