PARIS — Resident Bruce Sargent was the only one to speak during the Comprehensive Plan amendment hearing Wednesday evening, summing up his thoughts on the sometimes contentious issue about residential rural lot sizes with the one-liner: “It’s about time.”

His only comment was met with laughter from selectmen and a few residents in the audience. The amendment would decrease the residential rural lot requirement to a minimum of one acre and 150 feet of road frontage.

Currently, the minimum rural lot size is two acres with 250 feet of road frontage.

The issue will go to voters at the annual town meeting Saturday, June 13.

It first came to a head in February 2014 hearing where residents said they weren’t in favor of larger lot requirements. They worried about stifling development in Paris and the town telling people what they can and can’t do with their land.

The Comprehensive Plan Amendment Committee recommended the minimum be a half acre and 100 feet of road frontage.

At a second hearing in November 2014, residents said they would support a compromise of one acre and 150 feet of road frontage. Many of the more vocal residents, including Sargent, said they were worried about maintaining the rural character of the town. Some were afraid of septic systems failing as a result of smaller lots.

Selectmen wanted to bring the proposed Zoning Ordinance to the voters but discovered they could not because rural lot sizes conflicted with the Comprehensive Plan, Town Manager Amy Bernard previously said.

If voters approve the amendment to the plan, the Zoning Ordinance can be brought to a special town meeting. If it’s defeated, it’s back to the drawing board.

eplace@sunmediagroup.net

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