Proposed new ordinances on wetland protection and food trucks, as well as ordinance updates to requirements for parking and for changing the use of commercial venues, will be considered at a series of public hearings beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10.
The Planning Board began prepping for the hearings at its Aug. 13 meeting, where draft ordinances for four adjustments to the municipal code were discussed. The board agreed to discuss the ordinances again at its Aug. 27 meeting and to hold a public hearing on each of them at the following meeting two weeks later.
If the proposed ordinance amendment is approved by the Town Council, food trucks and other outdoor sales of food will be allowed again after being prohibited in South Berwick since 2014. Town regulations now require food sales to be conducted in a brick and mortar operation, with some exceptions.
DeCarlo Brown, town planner and economic development director, has previously encouraged ordinance changes such as the one regarding food trucks that would create a pipeline for local businesses to grow home occupations into commercial operations downtown.
Board Chair Hershey Hirschkop wondered if people would complain if six food trucks took up all the spaces at the Post Office parking lot.
“If this is occurring, then you have revitalized your downtown!” responded DeCarlo Brown, adding that any problems that arise can be addressed at that time.
Signage pointing visitors to public parking areas is in the works as part of the Downtown Revitalization Plan.
The draft amendment regarding non-residential change of use in the two downtown areas zoned for business would allow the Planning Board to waive major or minor site plan review when the plan is first presented to the Planning Board, as long as the new use will result in equal or less intense use than the previous one.
The proposed parking ordinance update, previously reviewed by the board, complies with a new state law limiting requirements for off street parking to one space per dwelling unit. The state law means the town’s current parking ordinance puts a greater burden on commercial development, making it easier to develop housing than businesses downtown.
“Your parking standards right now are completely out of line with things you’re trying to encourage within your growth area,” said Brown.
Cutting by half the existing requirements for off street parking for non-residential use, Brown said, could offer some immediate relief for directing development toward the designated growth areas. Current local parking requirements for businesses could be eliminated or replaced by standards – such as size, location, screening and traffic flow – guiding Planning Board site plan reviews .
A proposed new wetlands protection ordinance would fill a gap in the land use code, which now protects wetlands only in shoreland areas of town. Under the proposed ordinance, filling or altering wetlands would require a permit and would have guidelines and conditions for permitted uses. Cutting trees for landowner’s personal use will not require a permit.
All four draft ordinances are available in the Aug. 13 Planning Board meeting packet on the town website.
