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Committee backs housing chapter, flags collaboration with regional housing group
Summary
The Rangeley committee agreed to forward the housing chapter to the Board of Selectmen and discussed partnering with a regional housing group that holds a $300,000 grant; members said Rangeley could be added to that group's efforts.
The Rangeley Comprehensive Plan Review Committee voted to forward the draft housing chapter to the Board of Selectmen and discussed potential collaboration with a regional group working on affordable housing.
Committee members described conversations with a group variously called the Western Maine Housing Group (participants also referenced "Western Maine Mountain Housing" and similar spellings) and named local participants including Paul Peck and John O'Brien. Members said the group has a $300,000 grant (described in the meeting as county TIF funds) and has pursued projects in nearby towns such as Kingfield. Committee members reported that representatives told them, "we'd love to have Rangeley" participate in regional housing efforts.
The committee agreed to include an actionable step in the plan to continue discussions with the regional housing group rather than to create a local housing authority. Members emphasized that Rangeley is not large enough to form a standalone housing authority but could collaborate on shared projects and explore inclusion in regional grant-funded efforts. The committee recorded no opposition to forwarding the housing chapter to the Selectmen.
Members noted the draft contains language asking the town to consider mixed-use development and options to ease zoning barriers for residential uses in commercial zones. The committee decided to change language in the economy section from "employee housing" to "mixed use" to broaden the option for residential development above commercial properties.
