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Revaluation Sheds Light on Permit Problems in China

November 05, 2008 - CHINA -- An unintended consequence of the property revaluation completed in July is likely to boost headaches for town officials and costs for some residents.

Code Enforcement Officer Scott Pierz told Planning Board members Tuesday the review uncovered at least 78 structures built without permits, with another 40 still being investigated. Most, he said, are decks and sheds.

Pierz said he intends to notify each property owner of his or her problem.

If the building or addition does not violate any ordinance requirement, the usual remedy is to have the owner apply for an after-the-fact permit and pay a double permit fee.

In some cases, Pierz said, the unpermitted structure was built by a previous owner. Town officials will need to decide whether current owners should be held responsible for a previous owner's failure to get a permit.

The only specific action on Tuesday's agenda was signing the previously approved permit for the new Hannaford supermarket on Windsor Road.

Hannaford representative Mitchell Feeney asked board members for a clarification and an extension of two of the conditions attached to the approval.

The conditions are all supposed to be met before construction starts -- probably later this fall, Feeney said. However, the two required traffic counts are to be done before the store opens and within a year later.

Tentatively, Feeney said, the first will be in the spring or summer 2009, with store opening tentatively in late summer or fall.

Also, he asked for more time to complete the required conservation arrangement for the approximately 117 acres Hannaford owns east of the building site. Negotiations are going slowly, he said.

Board members authorized Pierz to incorporate the changes in the permit.

In other business:

• Board members and Kennebec Water District spokesman James Hart agreed that the low impact development concept ought to be widely publicized and perhaps incorporated into town ordinances.

Low impact development, or LID, involves designing runoff controls, many of them plantings and other aesthetically pleasing features, for all development, including individual houses.

Planning Board member Michael Martin suggested the board present workshops on the concept during the annual China Community Days celebration.

• Pierz went over a list of ordinances board members might want to work on after the Nov. 4 local election. State shoreland zoning amendments must be incorporated into the town ordinance by the end of June 2009, he said.

• Pierz also distributed an outline for the shoreland septic systems ordinance board members have discussed at intervals for several years, mentioned possible revisions to the Land Development Code and asked whether board members thinks the town needs an ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses.

Board members scheduled their next meeting for Tuesday evening, Nov. 18, skipping the usual second Tuesday because Nov. 11 is the Veterans' Day holiday.

10/30/2008
BY MARY GROW
Correspondent, Kennebec Journal


Lakes: China Lake
Regions: Belgrade


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