Disagreement regarding public comments prompts a strong statement from Planning Board chair, Audrey Lones.
Alluding to state statutes, Lones barred allowing a public comment period during the December 14 meeting. Following a call for Point of Order by resident Mike Mallory, Lones threatened to have public removed or to adjourn the meeting if residents continued to speak up during the meeting.
Residents have questioned the Planning Board’s inconsistency regarding allocating a public comment period on agendas. During the September 28 workshop and the October 12 meeting, residents were allowed to comment on agenda items as well as ask general questions. At the November 9 public hearing, Lones closed discussion with a resident waiting to be recognized to speak.
Mallory expressed his frustration with the situation during the December 7 Select Board Meeting.
Historically, resident interest in municipal meetings has been limited. Recent disagreement over Town polices has prompted a significant increase in civic participation.
Each committee sets its own policy regarding public comment, and most reserve time on agendas or allow residents to speak on topics based on interest.
The Planning Board’s policy regarding public comment will be addressed at the January 11 meeting, said Lones.
New Policy
Planning Board voted to adopt an amended Remote Meeting Policy. Changes were in response to guidance from legal review following the November 9 Public Hearing. Lones noted the town committee policy will need to be revised to align with the new policy.
State statute 1 MRS § 403-B went into effect on July 30, 2021. It permits municipalities to conduct remote meetings in limited situations and if a policy has been adopted.
Senior Housing Community Plan Moves Forward
The Planning Board voted to accept the preliminary application for Crossroads Subdivision. The proposed development, locally referred to as “Hazeltons,” will be a 55+ community. It is yet to be finalized whether the 13 single-family houses will be rental units or privately owned.
The new neighborhood will be located on the peninsula between Routes 115 and 9, with lots conforming to the LUO encouraging density within the Village Center District. Proposed houses will be single-story dwellings on lots less than ¼ acre, with the exception of Lot 3.
A community septic system will service 11 units, with the remaining two lots using Fuji aerobic systems and a shared leach field. The plan allows the development to remain below the 2000-gallon threshold requiring an engineered system, said Ryan Keith (CEO).
Negotiations are ongoing to extend Summit Natural Gas lines to North Yarmouth to service the new development.
Two deed restrictions will be added to ensure the development remains 55+ and requiring septic maintenance.
A public hearing will be conducted on January 11.
New Business
The Planning Board approved the minor subdivision amendment for Bacon Farm. The hammerhead turnaround will be shifted 50’ to allow adequate space from the nearest driveway. Fill will be used to reduce the slope of the new location.
Citizen Petition
Lones tentatively scheduled an additional public hearing for the January 11 meeting. On December 7, the Select Board approved sending the citizen’s referendum seeking to reestablish a building cap for Village Districts to a ballot vote on February 15.
Questions about timeline and format have since been raised. “There is not enough time to get absentee ballots out [prior to February 15],” said Lones. Alternatives are being considered, such as scheduling a special Town Meeting or adding the question to the warrant for the regular Town Meeting.
More information will be available at the December 21 Select Board meeting.
The meeting was not recorded due to the unavailability of staff because of possible COVID exposure.
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