PERU – Creation of this town’s first comprehensive plan is almost done, after nearly two years of research, surveys and biweekly meetings by the committee.
Townspeople will decide whether to adopt it at the annual town meeting on March 19. A public hearing on the 66-page document will be scheduled shortly before voter action, said Comprehensive Plan Committee member Vera Parent.
Meanwhile, another public informational meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the town office.
Bill Hine, chairman of the committee, said the plan is important for two reasons: the state encourages towns to develop such plans and offers grant opportunities for those that do; and the committee wants the town to be proactive. Hine said the idea is to have a plan in place before rampant growth hits northern Oxford County, like it has done in southern Maine.
The comprehensive plan itself provides demographics, statistics, a history and a vision for the town, something that can be amended in the future, said Parent.
The actual ordinances that are needed to put specific ideas into action would have to be written, then approved individually by townspeople, said Hine. Such ordinances could include a site-plan review that would provide guidelines and a checklist for the Planning Board whenever a project came before it, or an updating of the current subdivision ordinance.
Richard Powell, a landowner with family roots in Peru that go back to the late 18th century, said a comprehensive plan would greatly affect his property.
He objects to the possibility of mandating larger lot sizes and the establishment of a bird-wading habitat.
“I’m concerned about regulations in a number of areas and feel they would devalue my land,” he said.
Thursday’s meeting, and the public hearing that will be held early next month, will more clearly outline what the proposed comprehensive plan would do.
Hine said the plan contains several basic goals including: adoption of a site-plan review ordinance, assigning a code enforcement officer greater duties, establishment of a schedule of fines for construction done without permits, setting up more contact with large landowners, directing new development where slopes and soils are suitable, development of long-range capital plans, adoption of an ordinance that would recover permitting and monitoring costs from developers, and requiring driveway permits for entrances onto town roads.
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