Town of Litchfield, Maine
04350

 

Litchfield Planning Board Minutes
November 19, 2007

 

 

1.0 Meeting convenes at 6:05 p.m. at the Litchfield Town Office

1.1 Members present: Eric Seaman (chair), Judy Rogers, John Hatch (tardy), Mike Seaman and Terry Averill excused absences; Robert Gordon’s absence is unexcused. Guests attending: George Rogers

2.0 No minutes submitted for approval.

3.0 Agenda Additions/Adjustments

5.1 DEP approval of Shoreland Zoning

4.0 Scheduled Business

4.1 Subdivision Ordinance review. Eric spoke with McGregor and asked him to sit in at a meeting, and faxed him a Copy of Ordinance as is. There is no word that he would be attending tonight’s meeting.

Reorganization of Ordinance. Should the Subdivision Ordinance flow similarly to the Land Use Ordinance? The definitions could be moved to the back and Open Space/Conservation moved forward; Judy plans on reviewing a copy of Freeport’s Subdivision Ordinance. The board goes through the entire ordinance from the beginning. Section 1 – okay; 2 – remove definitions, insert how subdivision can be done followed by Review Criteria, Administration, Procedures, Sketch Plan, Preliminary & Final Plan Review, Performance Standards, Open Space, and Definitions. A preface could be included to explain Litchfield’s goals and desires to retain rural character. Mike would like to include density and capacity in definitions for use in the Performance Standards. It’s possible the Comprehensive Plan would need to add the same requirement unless the ordinance utilized districts. Where does the board feel subdivision should be located in town; Judy – village (yes), planned development (encourage), rural (discourage), John – village (encourage), planned development (back off road, save road frontage for industry), rural (performance standards designated to), Mike – village (yes), planned development (encourage), rural (discourage using performance standards). Eric would like to see more invisible development, and encourage Open Space in rural (maybe only type of subdivision in rural); Open Space development may not be appropriate for the village. Mike suggested eliminating minor and major subdivisions and utilize performance standard table instead. Judy and John agree.

5.0 Unscheduled Business

5.1 DEP approval of SZO amendment, (default)

5.2

6.0 Correspondence

6.1 Letter from the Strategic Planning Committee explaining disbandment

6.2 DEP information – handout

6.3 Shoreland Zoning newsletter

6.4 Maine Supreme Court ruling

7.0Future Agenda Items

7.1 McGregor may attend next meeting, please prepare questions or ideas.

8.0 Judy made a motion to adjourn at 7:15 p.m. John 2 nd, and vote 4-0-0.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lezley Sturtevant
PB Secretary