The North Yarmouth Select Board will host two public forums on proposed land use ordinance (LUO) amendments. An in-person session is scheduled for October 3 at 6 pm. An additional event is set for noon on October 12 via Zoom.
The format has not been published.
NYFV reached out to the Select Board to confirm what residents could expect on both October 3 and October 12 but did not have reply by time of publication.
During the September 6 public hearing, Selectpersons Kate Perrin, Amy Haile and Andrea Berry questioned whether experts had been consulted to develop the amendments and what the impact would be for North Yarmouth. They could not conceptualize the impact of proposed LUO amendments for North Yarmouth in 5-10 years and requested experts be invited to a forum to explain possible ramifications.
Other comments by Perrin, Haile and Berry questioned “process” rather than merits of proposed amendments.
Select Board Chair Brian Sites stated sending the warrant to the ballot is not in response to a threat of a referendum. “There is no clear process, and there is no group that has the capacity, or the know how to push these through right now.” Sites clarified this was not a critique of the Planning Board.
The amendments combine LUO changes that could not be voted on at town meeting due to an administrative error as well as resident proposals and corrections.
Sites shared rationale to send the warrant for a ballot vote. During his Board tenure, residents have been discussing a number of LUO issues, including setbacks and building heights. “If people want to move in that direction. Great, let's move in that direction. If we don't, let's not do that. Let's do something else. I was in favor of combining these two things together because I think there are reasonable changes within that warrant article seven that need to happen. They're not earth shattering. And I think you can educate people between now and the time of the November election.”
Monday’s session at Wescustogo Hall is scheduled to begin at 6 pm and will be broadcast. The panel of experts, their credentials, and what position panelists would be advocating has not been published.
Perrin advertised the forums as information sessions on a personal Facebook page.
Whether residents would be restricted to directing questions to the Select Board or permitted to ask panelists directly is not clear. It was also not confirmed if residents will be allowed to simply make position statements, such as during the public hearing, or will participants be limited to only asking questions.
The agenda does not state if the Board will open the forum with their questions. Whether the Board would be putting forth a position statement is also unclear.
Monday’s session will be in person. It was not confirmed if the October 12 event would have different participants or follow a different format.
The Select Board has scheduled the special Town Meeting to coincide with the November election. Residents will vote on the LUO amendments at the polls November 8. Sample ballots can be viewed on the town website. Proposed LUO changes are not posted. Residents must go to townhall to request a copy.