Select Board votes unanimously to send citizen’s initiative to referendum.
At the December 7 Select Board meeting, resident Linc Merrill summarized the petition question and outlined the reason for seeking a building cap for the Village Districts. The Select Board set February 15 for the referendum vote.
According to Merrill, the goal of the petition is not to impose a building moratorium.
“This is not anti-development,” said Merrill, but an effort to moderate the current pace of development in North Yarmouth. The referendum seeks to reestablish a building cap for the Village Districts, which was lifted in 2007.
Following approval of the current Comprehensive Plan, the rate of new construction has increased significantly. Historically, Yarmouth Water District averaged 1.2 new North Yarmouth connections to town water per year. They have added more than 100 new customers in the past 4 years.
Merrill shared feedback from petition signers, suggesting curbing the current rate of growth is a step to acknowledge resident anger and frustration. Taxes, schools, and the number of houses in Village Center were also among the top issues among petition signers.
Collecting signatures “was a cakewalk,” said Merrill, noting some residents felt the petition is not enough to address what they see as part of a negative trend for North Yarmouth.
Small lot sizes, maximum setbacks, small lot widths, and potential for taller buildings are things residents want changed.
Resident Diane Morrison raised questions about the group behind the petition. Morrison stated she requested to see a copy of the petition but was refused due to allegations that she “was not trustworthy enough.”
Morrison suggested looking at development in the Farm and Forest District. “Those areas are putting houses up in fields, and for me, it’s a more damaging situation than having everything condensed in the center of town.”
Morrison proposed considering a referendum for building in the other zoning districts, to review development she considers “ruining North Yarmouth.”
In contrast to the Village Districts, Farm and Forest limits building in an attempt to preserve rural aspects of the town. Current Land Use Ordinances set a limit of in Farm and Forest at “15 dwelling units per year. No single person, entity, corporation or developer may apply for more than 3 new dwelling permits per year.”
Yet, the lack of a building cap for Village Districts has fostered development in areas previously considered rural. The Comprehensive Plan links Village Center and Village Residential for many of its strategies and recommends “clustering development to the village district,” meaning areas other than Farm and Forest and Shoreline. The current area that qualifies as village district covers a large radius extending from the accepted center of North Yarmouth.
The recent York Ridge subdivision broke ground in a 70-acre field, which was previously a town funded cottontail rabbit habitat. The 13-house development is 1.5 miles from North Yarmouth Variety, the nucleus of Village Center. The subdivision directly borders Farm and Forest, and all 13 lots are under 1 acre, with 5 being 1/2 acre or less. Abutting the current development is the outer boundary of Village Center.
The Select Board did not present strong opposition to the referendum question. Timing and method for the referendum were the most significant part of the discussion.
To appear on a ballot, the referendum question must follow a set process, which includes a review by the planning board and a public hearing.
Timing of the process is being sorted out, said Select Board Chair, Brian Sites. Printing ballots and vote counting methods must also be determined.
Based on recommendation from Debbie Grover (Town Clerk), Chris Bolduc (Interim Town Manager) proposed delaying scheduling the referendum until April or possibly June. Due to end-of-year work, meeting the requested ballot date will be difficult. Giving town staff more time to accomplish the administrative process for the referendum is needed, said Bolduc.
Costs for the special vote have not been confirmed. Bolduc projected a town informational mailing would total at least $2000 and estimated election day costs at $5000, approximately $800 below a special town meeting.
Other towns are watching. Merrill noted Pownal residents have started a similar petition, to set a temporary building moratorium while they review their comprehensive plan and zoning. They do not like what they see happening in North Yarmouth and do not want it to happen in Pownal. According to Merrill, the driving force is wanting to preserve their rural character.
More information will be shared as it becomes available. The date for the election is in process of being moved to a March date.
The next Select Board Meeting is December 21, which starts at 6 pm with an executive session. The meeting potentially will not be available on Town Hall Streams due to staff unavailability because of possible Covid exposure.