Changes coming as a result of comp plan
Changes coming as a result of comp plan
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
Two of the major goals laid out in Scarborough’s newly updated comprehensive plan are the development of affordable housing and focusing new development in certain areas of town. A series of proposed amendments to town ordinance that the Town Council is considering are designed to make both of those goals achievable.
One proposed amendment would establish a development transfer mechanism that would provide ways for the town to transfer future development from areas designated in the comprehensive plan as “limited growth” to areas designated “high growth.” Another proposed amendment would make it easier for developers to build affordable housing in Scarborough by extending the amount of time affordable housing building permits are valid.
“People in Scarborough have been concerned about change,” said Councilor Sylvia Most, a member of the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee. “We’re putting in place a mechanism to let the town grow, but not experience the rapid change in landscape that we’ve seen in the last ten or 15 years.”
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Town Council unanimously approved a first reading on both proposed amendments and scheduled a public hearing for both on Feb. 7. There will also be a third amendment considered at the meeting that would create a definition for multi-family housing in the ordinance, as recommended by the Scarborough Housing Alliance. All three amendments are part of a series of measures put forward by the implementation committee that are scheduled to be appear before the council in the coming months.
The proposed changes in how affordable housing permits are administered by the town are based on feedback from local developers who have said that it is difficult to obtain the permits.
“The way our ordinance is written there aren’t enough building permits available to make affordable housing economically feasible,” said Most.
Although the council is considering adopting the amendment to create a development transfer mechanism, additional steps will need to be taken by the town before such a system is actually in place. The town would need to define which geographic regions of town the ordinance applies to.
“This doesn’t change anything right away, but it puts a tool in place,” said Most. “First we have to agree that we want a development transfer, then we have to apply it.”
In the new ordinance created by the implementation committee, the logistics of the development transfer is explained:
“Development transfer may be accomplished by the payment of fees for additional residential density within developments located in the growth areas of town, with the fee revenue to be used to conserve potentially developable land within the town’s limited and very low density growth areas. Alternatively, development transfer may be achieved by the transfer of development rights from the limited and very low density growth areas of town to the growth areas of town.”
In general, the comprehensive plan calls for transferring development from the western, less developed areas of Scarborough, towards the eastern section of Scarborough, particularly along Route One. The next step the council will take in the process of implementing the comprehensive plan will be to make changes to each of the town’s zoning districts, beginning with the areas along Route One. Most said the council will consider measures that would encourage mixed commercial and residential uses and that would allow apartments to exist on the upper stories of buildings with commercial businesses on the first floor.
By Zack Anchors
Staff writer
Two of the major goals laid out in Scarborough’s newly updated comprehensive plan are the development of affordable housing and focusing new development in certain areas of town. A series of proposed amendments to town ordinance that the Town Council is considering are designed to make both of those goals achievable.
One proposed amendment would establish a development transfer mechanism that would provide ways for the town to transfer future development from areas designated in the comprehensive plan as “limited growth” to areas designated “high growth.” Another proposed amendment would make it easier for developers to build affordable housing in Scarborough by extending the amount of time affordable housing building permits are valid.
“People in Scarborough have been concerned about change,” said Councilor Sylvia Most, a member of the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee. “We’re putting in place a mechanism to let the town grow, but not experience the rapid change in landscape that we’ve seen in the last ten or 15 years.”
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Town Council unanimously approved a first reading on both proposed amendments and scheduled a public hearing for both on Feb. 7. There will also be a third amendment considered at the meeting that would create a definition for multi-family housing in the ordinance, as recommended by the Scarborough Housing Alliance. All three amendments are part of a series of measures put forward by the implementation committee that are scheduled to be appear before the council in the coming months.
The proposed changes in how affordable housing permits are administered by the town are based on feedback from local developers who have said that it is difficult to obtain the permits.
“The way our ordinance is written there aren’t enough building permits available to make affordable housing economically feasible,” said Most.
Although the council is considering adopting the amendment to create a development transfer mechanism, additional steps will need to be taken by the town before such a system is actually in place. The town would need to define which geographic regions of town the ordinance applies to.
“This doesn’t change anything right away, but it puts a tool in place,” said Most. “First we have to agree that we want a development transfer, then we have to apply it.”
In the new ordinance created by the implementation committee, the logistics of the development transfer is explained:
“Development transfer may be accomplished by the payment of fees for additional residential density within developments located in the growth areas of town, with the fee revenue to be used to conserve potentially developable land within the town’s limited and very low density growth areas. Alternatively, development transfer may be achieved by the transfer of development rights from the limited and very low density growth areas of town to the growth areas of town.”
In general, the comprehensive plan calls for transferring development from the western, less developed areas of Scarborough, towards the eastern section of Scarborough, particularly along Route One. The next step the council will take in the process of implementing the comprehensive plan will be to make changes to each of the town’s zoning districts, beginning with the areas along Route One. Most said the council will consider measures that would encourage mixed commercial and residential uses and that would allow apartments to exist on the upper stories of buildings with commercial businesses on the first floor.
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