DURHAM – About 60 residents attended a hearing Monday night on proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, land use and subdivision ordinances. The amendments will go before voters at the March 6 town meeting.

Gordon Grimes explained the changes are to bring the town’s ordinances “into line” with the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2002, as required by the state. If the ordinances are not made compatible with the Comprehensive Plan, it could invalidate all of the town’s land use ordinances.

“Without land use ordinances” he warned, residents face the possibility of “such things as a gas station, pig farm, gravel pits” being located next door to their homes. If the amendments are enacted by town meeting, Grimes did not rule out future changes when it is determined they’re needed. “It will probably be an evolving process,” he said.

In response to strong opposition last year to a limit of only 15 building permits in the rural district and 30 in the growth district, it is now being proposed to allow the issuance of 45 building permits a year anywhere in the town. Also, the five districts have been narrowed down to two and there is now only one growth district located in the Southwest Bend area, where all the town facilities are located.

Local builder Todd Beaulieu said he didn’t understand why “subdivisions are limited to five lots, if the state is against sprawl.” He also complained about specifications for subdivision roads and opposed a section that would require that roads in subdivisions outside the growth district remain private, noting that the subdivision roads are probably better than the town roads.

Committee member Sandy Polster replied it was an effort to keep town costs down. He said it now costs about $20,000 per mile to maintain town-owned roads, which was disputed by Beaulieu.

Chairman Terry Kirk called a halt to the road discussion, pointing out that those ordinances were not new and have been in effect for many years. The hearing, he said, was to discuss proposed amendments.

All of the land use ordinances are in keeping with the town’s desire to maintain its rural character and open space, as well as the State Planning Office recommendations encouraging building houses in the growth district, residents were told.

One man contended that concentrating housing on smaller lots in the growth district would have the effect of devaluing land in other areas of town.

Copies of the Comprehensive Plan and ordinance amendments are available for viewing at the town office during regular business hours.