September 20, 2024
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Camden voters support all six zoning changes

CAMDEN – Voters on Tuesday put to rest the past year’s zoning turmoil by approving all six of the planning board’s proposals for property use around the harbor.

The results of Tuesday’s election marked a black-and-white contrast to the town vote last November when residents had approved a six-month moratorium on development near the harbor and rejected on the same ballot a plan by Wayfarer Marine to convert working waterfront property to residential use.

The planning board’s proposals this year sought to provide a balance between residential and working waterfront.

Select Board Chairman John French Jr. stood inside the fire station polling place and said he was “pleased” after the unofficial tally was announced.

Voters also approved two articles related to the sale of the former Apollo Tannery.

Article 9 was approved 979-348 by voters wanting to retain a 25-foot-wide strip along the Megunticook River on the Apollo Tannery property and to preserve it for perpetual use.

Article 10 received support in an 899-415 tally giving the town the go-ahead to sell Tannery with conditions.

In the zoning issues, voters approved Article 3 by 982-293 to define street level for a building on a slope. The new definition resolved several ambiguities, such as how to determine street level when a structure is located on a slope at some distance from a street or the harbor.

Article 4 changing the zoning for 18 businesses on the east side of Main and Bayview streets was approved 945-325.

Votes also gave the nod, 747-590, to Article 5 for amendments continuing the remaining business harbor district around the harbor to the Bean Yard at Wayfarer Marine. The proposed amendments would eliminate all residential uses within the remaining business harbor district, except, within 180 feet of Atlantic Avenue and beyond 276 feet from the harbor, or the back half of the Bean Yard.

Under Article 5, the planning board proposed an incentive to improve marine facilities by allowing a builder to build or renovate two square feet of marine building coverage for each square foot of residential building coverage.

Article 6 carried 749-528 allowing a change in the harbor business district to include four properties along Bayview Street, from the Yacht Club to the public landing.

Residents approved zone changes under Article 7 by 826-387 to allow more retailing to the businesses in the Archway Business Park across the street from Ellsworth Builder Supply.

Voters approved in a 787-439 tally to carry out the recommendations of the planning board to prohibit the granting of private property rights that would legally restrict marine commercial development on the first 276 feet of the Bean Yard property.


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