DURHAM – About 100 people braved subzero temperatures to attend a public hearing on proposed land use ordinance changes.

Although a majority just listened, some builders and developers voiced concerns about a limitation on permits issued for family members who are involved in the building business. Another questioned why there was no provision for previously approved subdivision owners that would allow them to get more than one permit.

Comprehensive Plan Committee Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick chaired the meeting that was jointly hosted by his panel and the Ordinance Writing Committee. They have been working on revisions since an earlier proposal was turned down last August.

Among the ordinance changes turned down last year was a provision that would have “grandfathered” existing subdivisions. Taking that vote into consideration, the Ordinance Committee opted not to include it in the new ordinance, a committee spokesman said.

However, one resident, who complained about the absence of that exception, said he thought it was turned down because it was grouped with another unrelated issue in one article.

Fitzpatrick said this was not the case; it was in an article dealing with only ordinances.

The goal of both committees has been “to keep the rural character of the town,” something residents indicated they want, and to ensure that it’s “not overbuilt,” Fitzpatrick noted.

Auburn:

Hope lives on for school expansion

AUBURN – Auburn will keep its choices open when it comes to Lake Street Elementary School.

The Auburn School Committee agreed to keep the options it holds on four Lake Street neighborhood properties, a move offers a glimmer of hope to residents who want the current Lake Street school to expand.

But minutes later, members voted unanimously to look at purchasing three parcels of land that sit blocks away, a decision that lets Auburn officials seriously plan an entirely new neighborhood school.

“We are exploring other options. We will continue to do that,” said Superintendent Barbara Eretzian.

Lewiston:

Changes made

in Wal-Mart plan

LEWISTON – Wal-Mart’s grocery warehouse will be slightly taller and farther back from River Road and Plourde Parkway than planned.

Work on the retailer’s distribution center is to begin in April. “We’re getting closer to it, and the plans are getting more concrete,” said Deputy Development Director David Hediger.

Plans include adding another 6 feet on top of the warehouse, but reducing the building’s footprint by about 43 feet along the southern side. Original plans set the building height at 100 feet, and the size at 485,000 square feet.

“The end result is that the building is moving farther away from the intersection of River Road and Plourde Parkway,” Hediger said. “It’s a little change and shouldn’t have much impact.”

Hediger said the designs of machinery to be housed in the warehouse made the shape change needed. The building will be a huge grocery and produce transfer facility, full of conveyor belts and storage areas.

“Originally, they were planning to build a shell and then put the mechanics inside,” Hediger said. “Now, they’re planning on building the actual conveyors and mechanics into the building. To do that, they needed more room on top.”

Minot:

Planning Board seeks revisions

MINOT – The Planning Board voted to recommend to selectmen that the town adopt revisions to the road ordinance to allow a subdivision developer to secure building permits before the subdivision’s road has been accepted by the town.

The Planning Board is asking selectmen to put the revised ordinance up for voter approval at March’s town meeting.

The revisions would allow a developer who has built the road up to final grade, fully prepared for paving, to be issued building permits for lots provided the developer gives the town a performance guarantee to ensure the road’s proper completion.

The conditions and amount of a certified check or performance bond should at least be equal to the cost of completing the road plus one year of maintenance and snow plowing for the street, with the condition that the road be completed within two years of the date of the bond.

Roads developed under this scenario would still be required to go to the annual town meeting for approval.

The intent of the revised ordinance is to remove a barrier to developers, who now must have a road built and approved at the March town meeting before any building permits are issued. It would still protect the town’s interest in having a properly constructed road completed in a timely fashion.

Lisbon:

Selectmen seek to extend contract

LISBON – Selectmen have authorized Town Manager Curtis Lunt to begin negotiations for a new, longer contract with Earthtech Inc., the firm that operates the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

Their decision came after a performance review Tuesday night indicating “significant improvement” in the first six months of a one-year contract that began July 1.

Turner:

Stolen car found on frozen river

TURNER – A car reported stolen was found on the ice after being driven across the frozen Androscoggin River Wednesday morning.

Androscoggin Sheriff’s Sgt. Dan McGinley said investigators believe the car was driven onto the river at the boat launch on Center Bridge Road.

The car struck the bank on the other side of the river before being abandoned.

Farmington:

Arts grants spread $99,000 across state

FARMINGTON – The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded grants to the Alice James Poetry Cooperative in Farmington.

The $24,000 award to the poetry cooperative will support the publication and promotion of poetry titles selected from three annual competitions.

Bates College in Lewiston also received a grant of $20,000. It will allow summer dance festival troupes to stay in town for the duration of the festival to participate in workshops and attend community events.

The NEA has awarded a total of $99,000 to six Maine agencies in its latest round of funding.

The other grants are:

• $10,000 to support the 40th anniversary season of the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival in Brunswick and the commissioning of new works;

• $25,000 to support a three-tiered approach for the development of new work at the Portland Stage Company;

• $10,000 to support the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s production of “Back to the River – a Penobscot River Tour;”

• $10,000 to support a production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” at the Penobscot Theatre Company in Bangor.

Minot:

Expansion at school supported

MINOT – School Committee officials said they support a parent group’s efforts to push forward a $2 million expansion at the Minot Consolidated School and that they have no problems with selectmen dealing directly with a parent group.

Selectmen Dean Campbell and Steve French told the School Committee that their board had received a draft copy of a petition that would place the expansion plan on the March town meeting warrant. Selectmen were asked to determine whether the petition’s wording passed legal muster.

“We are feeling stuck in the middle. If you folks aren’t thoroughly behind us, we want to know,” Campbell said.

Lewiston:

Warren man’s charges reduced

LEWISTON – Charges were reduced against one of two suspects nabbed a day earlier in a stick-up at a Lisbon Street pharmacy.

Originally arrested for robbery, 35-year-old Stephen Peterson was charged instead with hindering apprehension.

Police believe the Warren man waited in the car while Asa Troy Thorn, 30, went into Rite-Aid and demanded OxyContin from a store clerk.

The two men drove away from the scene moments before police arrived at the scene, according to witnesses. Investigators believe Peterson may have driven the getaway car at some point during their escape.

The pair was caught when a police officer pulled over the vehicle at Ferry and Apple roads minutes after the heist was reported.

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