Paper vs. digital: Scarborough boundaries questioned (Printed Nov. 23, 2007)
By James V. Horrigan
Staff Writer
Think you know where you live? Got a good idea of your property’s metes and bounds?
You might want to think again, especially if you’ve been relying on a paper zoning map drawn by an architect.
Since Scarborough switched four years ago to Global Information Systems (GIS) digital cartography, boundaries between contiguous properties and planning zones don’t always match up with the older maps.
“Boundaries can shift slightly in that process,” said Scarborough Town Planner Dan Bacon.
A case was brought before the planning board Monday when Brad White, the prospective buyer of a two-acre parcel at 83 Mussey Road told the board that he noticed a disparity when he compared the lot as shown on a 1976 survey map with the more up-to-date digitalized version.
While the majority of the land is zoned for industrial use, the boundary separating it from the R-2 residential zone slices through a small portion of the lot, an inconsistency White blames on planning zones having been drawn in some cases without regard to existing plot lines.
“The property is split in terms of zoning and the prospective buyer seeks to rezone,” Bacon told the board.
White said he had spoken to all the abutters and noted the nearest residential property is more than 200 feet from the land in question. None of the abutters, he said, had expressed opposition to the change.
“The request is consistent with [the town’s] Comprehensive Plan,” he said.
Planning Board Chairman Allen Paul said he saw no issue with the request.
“I suggest we pass it favorably,” Paul said. “No formal motion is necessary.”
After the hearing White laid the old paper map beside the new GIS map on a table outside the conference room and explained his motivation.
“It’s right across from the entrance to the new Lowe’s (Home Improvement). This request is to make it all the same,” he said.
White said he has no immediate plans to develop the land, but noted that his business, BRC Communications, which installs and supports telephone systems for small-to-mid-size businesses, currently rents office space on the northern border of the lot contiguous to it.
He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Comprehensive Plan dealing with that area is amended to reflect its changing use and that when it does, he wants to be ready.
“As time goes on, I want to see how things develop,” he said. “I want to be able to do something that really complements other businesses in the area,” such as Loews.
White, who served as chairman of the town Charter Review Committee and sat on the Haigis Parkway Committee, founded BRC Communications in 1991 and currently employs five people in addition to himself.
Other Business
In other business, the planning board heard from local developer Rocco Risbara III, who requested a preliminary review of a planned 10-lot subdivision off Holmes Road.
The land, which is crisscrossed with trails, is currently used on an informal basis for hiking and horseback riding. Planning board member Susan Auglis asked if the trails were used by snowmobiles and Risbara said to the best of his knowledge neither snowmobiles nor ATVs used the property.
“I know the board is concerned about trails,” Risbara said. “That’s why we put them on this map to show you what’s out there.”
Risbara said he could not guarantee that if the development is passed the trails would be retained and subsequently maintained by the homeowners association that will hold deed to the property.
Member Anne Littlefield told Risbara she would hate to see existing trails abandoned, even if they presently exist only on an informal basis.
Paul said if the association should decide in the future to add active recreation to the land, such as a playground or ball field, they would have to come before the planning board for review.
In closing the discussion, member Susan Auglis congratulated Risbara for finding what she described as possibly one of the last undeveloped pieces of property in Scarborough without existing wetlands.
Risbara said after the meeting that he expects to be back before the planning board in January for a review of his formal plan for the subdivision.
Staff Writer
Think you know where you live? Got a good idea of your property’s metes and bounds?
You might want to think again, especially if you’ve been relying on a paper zoning map drawn by an architect.
Since Scarborough switched four years ago to Global Information Systems (GIS) digital cartography, boundaries between contiguous properties and planning zones don’t always match up with the older maps.
“Boundaries can shift slightly in that process,” said Scarborough Town Planner Dan Bacon.
A case was brought before the planning board Monday when Brad White, the prospective buyer of a two-acre parcel at 83 Mussey Road told the board that he noticed a disparity when he compared the lot as shown on a 1976 survey map with the more up-to-date digitalized version.
While the majority of the land is zoned for industrial use, the boundary separating it from the R-2 residential zone slices through a small portion of the lot, an inconsistency White blames on planning zones having been drawn in some cases without regard to existing plot lines.
“The property is split in terms of zoning and the prospective buyer seeks to rezone,” Bacon told the board.
White said he had spoken to all the abutters and noted the nearest residential property is more than 200 feet from the land in question. None of the abutters, he said, had expressed opposition to the change.
“The request is consistent with [the town’s] Comprehensive Plan,” he said.
Planning Board Chairman Allen Paul said he saw no issue with the request.
“I suggest we pass it favorably,” Paul said. “No formal motion is necessary.”
After the hearing White laid the old paper map beside the new GIS map on a table outside the conference room and explained his motivation.
“It’s right across from the entrance to the new Lowe’s (Home Improvement). This request is to make it all the same,” he said.
White said he has no immediate plans to develop the land, but noted that his business, BRC Communications, which installs and supports telephone systems for small-to-mid-size businesses, currently rents office space on the northern border of the lot contiguous to it.
He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Comprehensive Plan dealing with that area is amended to reflect its changing use and that when it does, he wants to be ready.
“As time goes on, I want to see how things develop,” he said. “I want to be able to do something that really complements other businesses in the area,” such as Loews.
White, who served as chairman of the town Charter Review Committee and sat on the Haigis Parkway Committee, founded BRC Communications in 1991 and currently employs five people in addition to himself.
Other Business
In other business, the planning board heard from local developer Rocco Risbara III, who requested a preliminary review of a planned 10-lot subdivision off Holmes Road.
The land, which is crisscrossed with trails, is currently used on an informal basis for hiking and horseback riding. Planning board member Susan Auglis asked if the trails were used by snowmobiles and Risbara said to the best of his knowledge neither snowmobiles nor ATVs used the property.
“I know the board is concerned about trails,” Risbara said. “That’s why we put them on this map to show you what’s out there.”
Risbara said he could not guarantee that if the development is passed the trails would be retained and subsequently maintained by the homeowners association that will hold deed to the property.
Member Anne Littlefield told Risbara she would hate to see existing trails abandoned, even if they presently exist only on an informal basis.
Paul said if the association should decide in the future to add active recreation to the land, such as a playground or ball field, they would have to come before the planning board for review.
In closing the discussion, member Susan Auglis congratulated Risbara for finding what she described as possibly one of the last undeveloped pieces of property in Scarborough without existing wetlands.
Risbara said after the meeting that he expects to be back before the planning board in January for a review of his formal plan for the subdivision.
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