NEWRY – Several proposed changes to planning-related ordinances have prompted Newry selectmen to schedule a public hearing just one week before town meeting, when voters are to address the measures.
Two of the six changes, a bad news/good news combo for developers, are expected to generate considerable discussion at the hearing at 7 p.m. today in the Town Office.
One would require developers of certain new residential and commercial subdivisions and buildings to either include fire ponds or cisterns for fire suppression or to install sprinkler systems in buildings.
Earlier attempts last year to push through a sprinkler-system requirement were extinguished at a special town meeting after lengthy angst-laden hearings, especially between developers and the Fire Department.
Those previous failed changes have been modified for another go-round at the 7 p.m. Monday, March 6, town meeting, Board of Selectmen Chairman Steve Wight said Friday morning.
Additionally, a new fire-suppression section is proposed to be inserted into the Unified Development Review Ordinance. That would affect new subdivisions and multifamily dwellings.
Smoke alarms would also be required in rental units.
The second heady change – the “good news” for developers – seeks to reduce the shoreland zoning ordinance setback around forested and freshwater wetlands of 10 acres or more, from 250 feet to 75 feet to conform with the state wetlands-delineation model ordinance.
“Somewhere back in the dusky and distant past, we put a 250-foot protection zone around all our wetlands, but we can only have 250 feet around wetlands identified by Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as wildlife habitat,” Wight said.
During a review of Newry’s shoreland zoning regulations and maps, only one such identified area was found.
The proposed change would also apply to the Bear and Sunday rivers, which currently have 250-foot setback requirements.
The Bear doesn’t drain for 25 miles until it gets to Branch Brook, so, from Branch Brook and up, the proposal is to reduce the protection zone to 75 feet.
“This will allow more development activity closer to the river, which may or may not be a happy thing,” Wight said.
It would also open valuable timberland to harvesting.
Other proposed ordinance alterations would:
• Require the building code to include exterior electrical shutoffs in new construction, “so firefighters don’t have to go inside a burning building to shut off power,” and require a Dumpster at all major construction sites to prevent construction debris from ending up at the dump, Wight said.
• Changes the building permit fees schedule.
• Redefine a two-family dwelling to clear up current confusion.
“So, we got a little something for everybody to be upset about,” Wight said.
Comments are no longer available on this story