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China planners seeking upgrade of state Shoreland zoning rules

April 26, 2007 - By the middle of next year, planners need voters approval to upgrade the town's shoreland rules to comport with tougher state standards.

At Tuesday's workshop meeting, Code Enforcement Officer Scott Pierz made sure all planning board members had copies of the state's 69 page state document: "Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances," adopted in May 2006.

By July 2008, all Maine towns and cities need to amend their local Shoreland ordinances to conform to the new guidelines.

Local ordinances may be stricter than the states, but not more lax, Planning Board Chairman Scott Rollins said.

Last November, China voters approved amendments to the definitions section of the local ordinance that added material from the state guidelines.

Other sections, like references to commercial fisheries, will not apply to China.

However, Pierz and board members agreed they need to review the state regulations thoroughly, and compare them to current local rules, to decide what changes will be best to recommend for China.

"It's another thing on your platter of things that you need to tackle, along with the phosphorus study and a septic system compliance ordinance," Pierz said.

In past months, board members started discussing ways to amend the town's phosphorus control ordinance, hoping to make it easier to understand and apply without reducing its value in protecting water quality. They are working with members of the former phosphorus study committee, the China Lake Association and other interested residents.

In 2006, the board and town office staff carried out a survey of septic systems in the shoreland zone. The next step is to develop an ordinance aimed at making sure shoreland property owners have properly functioning systems that don't foul waterways.

Board members decided the septic system ordinance will be a topic at their May 22 workshop meeting.

One item on their list is now out of their hands: the June 12 local ballot will include a question asking if voters want to approve proposed standards for private roads in future subdivisions.

Planning Board members drafted the standards in 2006, using other towns ordinances and suggestions from the town attorney and local residents. The standards, if adopted, will not apply to existing roads, and they will not apply to private roads that are not in subdivisions.

Board member Dwaine Drummond suggested preparing a single page summary of the standards to be posted or handed out at the polls.

"I would like people to vote because they understand it, whichever way they vote," Berman said

China Selectmen has scheduled a public hearing on the June 12 local questions for 6:30 p.m. Monday.


This article appeared in its original form in the Kennebec Journal April 26, 2007

Lakes: China Lake
Regions: Belgrade


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