SABATTUS – Residents at Thursday’s hearing on a growth plan identified good police and fire protection, good schools and the rural character of the town as assets.

John Maloney of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments asked them why a comprehensive plan in 1991 was rejected. “Some people say it’s zoning. It’s not,” Maloney said. “We’ll go to town meeting, and hopefully this time we’ll be successful. We have to identify where we are now and where we want to be.”

Maloney said some people believe approving the plan authorizes expenditures mentioned in it, such as police and fire equipment. It does not, he said.

“It feels like a small town. I would like it to stay that way. I’ve got a feeling it’s (population) is going to explode,” said Planning Board member Robin Dulac. She said she is not against some growth, but not condominiums.

Concerns were raised about more traffic from the Maine Turnpike interchange under construction. Joan Walton of AVCOG said studies indicate people from Monmouth and Winthrop who commute to Portland are expected to travel through Sabattus to use the interchange. She said the largest projected traffic increase over the next 25 years would be 166 percent on Route 132.

The state mandates that towns draft comprehensive plans once every decade.

-John Plestina

Copy the Story Link