Town of Searsmont

Planning Board Minutes

November 20, 2007

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

2. Attendance: Chair: George Sprowl, Vice Chair: Paul Leeper, Jack Degraff, Peter Jolliffe, David Marceau, Steve Porter and a special presentation by Stacy Benjamin.

3. Applications and Requests:

A. Stuart Smith- Aldus Shores campground on Aldus Shores Road, Searsmont. Stuart came before the Board to discuss his pre-application for a proposed sub -division on John and Phyllis McEvoy’s property, Book 1511 page 236, Map 11, lot 36. Stuart had the land surveyed by Gartley and Dorsky Engineering and Surveying of 59B Union Street, P.O. Box 1031, Camden Me. 04843. Stuart proposes 8 lots; all over 3 acres each, and presented the Board with maps for such lots. David Marceau abstained from this pre-aplication process and will continue to do so for it’s entirety, as it is a conflict of interest.

A USGS Contour Intervals for topography survey for Aldus shores was presented and a Motion made, seconded and passed, with one abstaining, to accept it.

A site walk with the Planning Board members and Stuart Smith is scheduled at said above address, to continue the pre-application process of this sub- division for Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 8 a.m. Acceptance of the Preliminary Plan will be pending this walk through and further meetings.

4. Minutes: review of November 6, 2007 minutes. Motion made, seconded and passed to accept minutes as they are.

5. Communications- Sub-Committee:

Karen Withee and Steve Page, the Planning Board sub-committee, met with the Board to discuss coherency of the existing Comprehensive Plan and focused on areas that will need to change to make it compliant with the zoning ordinances.

Searsmont has a 1993 Comprehensive Plan that was adopted by the town and found consistent by the State Planning Office/SPO. If the town wants to update the plan and have it reviewed under the “Old Rule it has to be submitted to the State Planning Office by September 20, 2008. If an updated Comprehensive Plan is accepted under the new rule by the SPO it will be in effect for 12 years.

Stacy Benjamin outlined two possibilities to the sub committee, who will be helping in these changes, which are:1. Use the new rules if they decide to revise the Comprehensive plan in its entirety or 2. If only updating the 1993 Comprehensive Plan to use the old rules. Because it is mostly just the land use that needs updating and the zoning needs to be in compliance. Stacy’s suggested to the committee is to update the 1993 plan using the new rule and amend the zoning to reflect whatever is proposed in the updated plan for growth-rural areas by the state.

For more information on the new rules and check lists you can be go to the States web page at; http:/maine.gov/spo/spohompage.com or contact John Webber, the State Planning Office leader.

Karen Withee and Steve Page will review the Plan and will follow up with the Board on December 18ths meeting. The town will be updated with the progress.

6. Old Business: None

7. New business: None

8. Adjournment: 9:00 p.m.