NORWAY – Developments proposed for less-traveled roads have town officials thinking it may be time for impact fees and maybe even a moratorium on subdivisions.
On Thursday, the Norway Board of Selectmen and Norway Planning Board will meet to discuss both possibilities. Town Manager David Holt said the suggestions have come forth as a result of recent subdivision applications. The latest, for a five-lot subdivision on Ralph Richardson Road, was reviewed by the planning board Feb. 10.
The town has several miles of roads like Ralph Richardson Road that are out of the way and sit low on the town’s list of improvement priorities, Holt said. The problem is that towns often are expected to take responsibility for maintaining subdivision roads after a certain period of time.
“If we start to get a lot of development on our poorer roads, I’m not sure that we’re going to be able to meet that challenge,” he said.
While a moratorium on subdivisions would temporarily stop all new subdivision development in town, impact fees would likely be more permanent. Many communities charge developers such fees to offset the cost of road and infrastructure improvements related to a specific project.
“I think it’s probably my job to bring (these ideas) up for discussion,” Holt said.
If the selectmen and Planning Board members agree on the necessity of the measures, the next step would be to work on related ordinances. It is the voters who would have the ultimate say on both proposals, and they may have their say sooner rather than later.
“Our town meeting is rolling around in June, and this should be one of the things that maybe should be on the warrant,” Holt said.
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