North Yarmouth is changing, fast, and residents are not happy.
A citizen’s initiative petition to limit residential building in North Yarmouth Village Districts was submitted to the town office on November 22. Debbie Grover (Assistant Town Manager & Town Clerk) confirmed paperwork had been turned in and staff were working to validate signatures.
Grover did not give an estimate when staff expected to finish signature verification. They are also processing an unrelated petition to create a consumer-owned electric transmission and distribution utility called the Pine Tree Power Company.
At least 244 signatures of registered voters, 10% of the total number of voters in the previous gubernatorial election, are needed to qualify the petition to move forward as a possible referendum.
Frustrated at local officials, many residents feel the character of North Yarmouth is being lost due to unlimited development in the Village Center. Their concerns are being dismissed with the sentiment “the ship has sailed,” implying there is nothing that can be done to stop the direction or pace of change.
The Comprehensive Plan is blamed for launching the ship. Goals outlined in the document emphasize strategies to spur economic development and concentrate it in the Village Districts. Yet, since its approval in 2018, the majority of development in Village Center has been residential rather than actual commercial growth.
In October, the EDSC reviewed survey responses used to create the Comprehensive Plan. Some goals do not align with the data, such as resident opinions regarding residential building caps and apartment buildings.
A group of residents are pushing back. They believe they have no choice but to do something to achieve the “reset” mentioned by the Select Board at the beginning of the new term. For the past week, they have been going door-to-door to urge neighbors to join them.
More than 370 signatures were collected supporting amending the Land Use Ordinances (LUO) to add a residential building cap for Village Districts. Currently there is no limit. Residents contacted by petitioners overwhelming support a cap to slow down the transformation of North Yarmouth.
Frustration about the rapid development and significant change to the appearance of the Village Center are top concerns, as well as lack of information.
Comments from residents who signed the petition include, “What is happening in town is ridiculous!” Another said, “This development has all happened so fast. What is going on?”
The LUO sets criteria allowing building lots to be less than ½ acre in Village Center and requires structures to be a maximum of 20 feet from front property line, as well as a maximum of 25 feet from side property line. Residents who want this to change are speaking out. “I do not like how close together the houses are in the village center.”
The sentiment is not limited to longtime residents. Even newcomers notice the difference. “This is not the town I moved into 4 years ago.”
Some expressed criticism focused on safety concerns. Changes to LUO have facilitated significant increases in density. Residents believe the situation contradicts the stated goal of creating a safe and walkable Village Center. “I am a bicyclist and have spoken to town office several times about all the congestion but nothing changes.”
Other residents feel current policies are contributing to larger issues. “Our schools are already overflowing and using portables. All the development is only going to make it worse.”
There is a growing sense of helplessness to address what they see destroying the very character of North Yarmouth. “I don't think town officials will be happy until we have strip malls in the center. I am really angry about all the development.”
Recent outreach by Bill Young to educate the community and get more people involved has uncovered a significant gap in resident knowledge. Young spoke with over 100 community members during the past week. Some did not know Rosemary Roy had resigned as Town Manager in July. Others had not heard about MSAD51’s plans for a new primary building. Residents expressed shock at learning the size and boundaries of Village Center. Confusion regarding the TIF and its impact on property taxes lingers.
Not all residents oppose what’s happening. Supporters of increased density argue it is actually preserving the rural character of North Yarmouth. Proponents believe concentrating growth in the Village Districts protects the rural aspects of Farm and Forest. Provisions in the LUO ensure efficiency of land use. The results are believed to prevent traditional sprawl by keeping urbanization in Village Districts.
“There are always residents who don’t like change, you just need to get over it,” said a resident opposing the petition. Another said, “I think the development is good because it increases my property value.”
The Comprehensive Plan was approved in 2018. According to Eric Gagnon (YWD Superintendent), historically North Yarmouth connects 1.2 new houses per year to town water. In the past 4 years, YWD has added over 100 new North Yarmouth customers. This represents more than a 2000% increase.
The amended LUO would ensure North Yarmouth would not be “built out” for 1100 years, said Ryan Keith (CEO) during the October Planning Board Workshop. However, the potential is on the horizon. A February 2021 Department Head comment document for the proposed York Ridge Subdivision hints town policy is accelerating to “build out” more rapidly than what Keith has proposed.
“We also agree that this parcel of land, in this area of town, should probably not be Village Center, and possibly not even Village Residential - at least for the next 25 - 50 years when the center of town has grown up.”
The referendum request will be presented to the Select Board at the December 7 meeting. Once all petition signatures are verified, the Select Board will have 60 days to send the question to voters as a warrant at a Town Meeting or as a ballot question. If approved, a public hearing would be scheduled by the Planning Board.