Town Of Searsmont

Planning Board Minutes

June 3, 2008

1. Call To Order: 7:00 p.m.

2. Attendance: Chair: George Sprowl Vice Chair: Paul Leeper, Jack Degraff, and Steve Porter.

3. Applications and Request:

A. Jane and Dan Bennett of 202 Walker road, Searsmont came before the Board with an application for an addition to their cottage: Frank was not here for this but he has verified all volume /sq. footage and according to his written letter it meets the standards. There are trees behind the camp that prohibits it from being moved back.

This application met the 30% expansion standard and therefore;

Motion made, seconded and passed unanimously to accept the application.

4. Minutes: Review of May 20 and 6, 2008.

Motion made, seconded and passed unanamously to accept minutes with minor changes.

5. Communications:

There was a review of past minutes;

OVERVIEW: Discussions centered on the following:

**Last meeting with Steve Paige was on December 18, He and Karen Withee's recommendations were to: update the 1993 plan, using the new state rules and establishing an industrial growth district and amending Zoning in growth-rural areas to match the new rules. Therefore making it comply with the zoning ordinances. The Planning Board obliged.

**And two motions in the past were made regarding the Comp plan.

1. To change the comp plan to formulating an amendment to delete the industrial zone language.

2. Was for Paul to amend/change the wording in section 500 of the Ordinance (mainly the industrial/growth zone)

**The new rules for the Comprehensive Plan can be found on the States web page under the Land Use Planning program Chapter 208.

LOOKING AHEAD:

** Current 1993 Comprehensive Plan doesn’t expire until 2012 as it is. But zoning and Comprehensive Plan need to be in compliance.

** The Comprehensive plan will need to be submitted by 9-20-08 to the State if Planning Board decides to go with the Old Rule. No need for a town vote for this.

** New Data & maps from the State on Searsmonts and surrounding towns are projected to be out in June 08.

** Projected State Shoreland Re-Zoning will be out in October -08.

** A recommendation needs to be presented to the selectmen as to how to proceed with the Comprehensive plan.

** November-20 minutes reflect Stacy’s suggestions.

On-line disclaimers were added and updated.

6. Old Business:

Discussions took place on reviewing the Land Use Ordinance, section 1000 and ways to update it. A suggestion is to use the States model that can be found on the State Planning Offices website. Further discussions will continue.

The Continuance of the Town Land Use Ordinance review was resumed.

7. New business: None.

8. Adjournment: 9:00 pm.