Auburn’s mayor, Jason Levesque, is “forming an Ad Hoc committee” to “develop shovel ready building plans that will be offered as permit ready, and free of charge.”

The committee will consist of 1. “Two residents from each ward,” 2. “Two planning board members,” 3. “City staff” and 4. “A paid architectural firm.”

The mayor’s “goal is to submit the plans to the planning board for approval or modification by February 2023.”

I am one of five residents who have applied and been named to the committee. Even though I appreciate and welcome the opportunity to participate, I will do so with some skepticism, having some questions as to the merits of the process.

Is the mayor’s action an afterthought and an appeasement to the public’s discontent with the mayor’s and the council’s bungled directed process surrounding the application of Form Base planning and code development outside Auburn’s long recognized downtown?

Is it necessary for the city to “develop … building plans” when, through the internet, there is an extensive library of plans for a wide array of housing types readily obtainable at a reasonable cost?

Will the mayor’s action actually “expedite and make new construction more cost effective” while providing “style … acceptable within the neighborhoods”?

Might it have been more appropriate for the mayor, planning staff and board members to have involved “neighborhood” residents, as opposed to “ward” residents, earlier through a meaningful and responsible public engagement process?

Bob Hayes, Auburn

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