BYRON – About 25 residents at Monday’s annual town meeting overwhelmingly approved this town’s first subdivision ordinance. Now the Planning Board will get to work on a shore-land ordinance and a comprehensive plan.
“If someone wants a subdivision, this will force them to do it right,” said David Duguay, chairman of the committee that has been working on the subdivision ordinance for more than a year.
Among the requirements in the 25-page document is a 10-acre minimum lot size. This excludes inter-family sales and gifts. Large lots can be subdivided into additional 10-acre lots following a five-year waiting period.
The document also outlines setbacks, private road specifications and other requirements for any proposed subdivisions.
“We did this in the nick of time,” said former Selectman Roger Boucher. His comment was greeted with a round of applause.
Current Selectman Steve Duguay said development appears to be moving north.
“We’ve had four subdivisions in the past 20 to 25 years. Three came out like crap. The fourth was not half bad. We don’t want just horse-drawn paths but decent roads,” he said.
Last year, townspeople enacted a one-year moratorium on subdivisions at their town meeting to give the Planning Board time to develop land use regulations for subdivisions.
Residents also approved a municipal budget of $99,900, an amount that includes social service and other organization requests, down about 10 percent from last year’s adopted budget of $110,730. Monday’s adopted budget does not include school or county taxes.
Property owners will continue to get a 10 percent discount if taxes are paid before Sept. 15. Some discussion suggested cutting that figure in half, but the majority believed granting a higher discount would promote greater cash flow and reduce the need to borrow funds. Taxpayers who pay after Nov. 1 will be assessed a 7 percent annual interest rate.
Residents approved spending $200 for the River Valley Growth Council, the same amount as last year, and $50 for the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, a reduction of $175. New this year was an approved donation of $100 for Moontide Water Festival events.
While some costs were higher this year, such as cemetery mowing, Planning Board expenses and garbage disposal, the overall approved budget was lower because the town did not have to raise a match to buy a new firetruck. That $15,000 was raised last year. Selectmen said the new truck arrives in town next week.
Selectman Steve Ladd was re-elected to another term, along with Town Clerk Rosie White, and treasurer and Tax Collector Melissa Plourde. None of the incumbents faced challengers.
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