BRIDGTON — Voters will decide Tuesday on two citizen petitions meant to keep big box stores and fast food restaurants out of town.

Both will amend the town’s Site Plan Review Ordinance. The one banning fast food restaurants defines them as restaurants requiring prescribed employee uniforms, interior or exterior color schemes, signage, name, presentation format or “similar standardized features which cause the restaurant to be substantially identical to another restaurant.”

The amendment to ban big box stores would block retail developments larger than 30,000 square feet, whether they consist of one or more buildings.

Critics have called the language too harsh, and say it could stifle economic development. Both amendments are retroactive to Dec. 1, 2010, would apply developments approved since then in violation of the amendments. That includes a McDonald’s which received a conditional approval in early January.

Mark Lopez, a developer who owns the land on which the McDonald’s would be built, has said that if the amendment passes and the McDonald’s is blocked, he or McDonald’s might sue the town.

Scott Finlayson of the group Keeping Bridgton Local and the man who started the petition drive said he stands behind the wording. The amendments “have to have teeth in order to be effective,” Finlayson said Monday.

As for the retroactive effect, Finlayson said the group started the petition drive in December and intended the timing of the amendments to run alongside Keeping Bridgton Local’s efforts.

He said the amendment language came from other towns that have adopted similar rules, like Damariscotta and York.

The petition would “give Bridgton the opportunity to direct its planning and direct its growth,” Finlayson said. He said win or lose, the petition will bring attention to the town’s lack of zoning policy.

Voting will take place at Bridgton Town Hall, and polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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