NEW GLOUCESTER — The Planning Board labored for more than two hours Thursday on revisions to the town’s Zoning Ordinance to comply with Maine’s Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Law that went into effect on July 1.

 
It was the board’s fourth workshop on the topic. Assistant Town Planner Amanda Lessard and board Chairman Jean Libby hope to wrap up their work with a revised townwide zoning ordinance that incorporates the state rules governing mandatory shoreland areas.

The new law governs all land within 250 feet of the high-water line of any pond over 10 acres, any river that drains at least 25 square miles, and all tidal waters and saltwater marshes.

The rules also apply to land within 250 feet of a freshwater wetland over 10 acres, except forested wetlands and 75 feet of a stream that includes outlet streams of great ponds, and streams below the confluence of two perennial streams.

Planners say they prefer to incorporate the ordinance changes in the town’s 197-page document rather than have a separate stand-alone ordinance.

The new ordinance requires that new structures must be built 100 feet from the high-water mark of the lake.

Nonconforming lots of record may not increase their size within the first 25 feet of the high-water mark of the lake.
The current Lake District will be renamed a Limited Residential Shoreland.

The board plans to complete its work at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29,  at the Meeting House in Lower Gloucester. The workshops are open to the public.

A meeting with New Gloucester selectmen is planned for Nov. 3. A public hearing will be held after selectmen set a date for a special town meeting for voter approval of the revised document.

New Gloucester has been out of compliance since July 1.