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Planning director outlines two-phase ordinance review to update zoning and compliance
Summary
The city’s planning director described a consultant-led, two-phase review of city ordinances to improve clarity, enforceability and state-law compliance. The first phase will focus on legal updates and be complete by December; the second will address technical reforms including housing and parking and is expected to finish by June.
Danielle Gift, Ellsworth’s director of planning, told the council the city has begun a two-phase ordinance review with an outside consultant to bring local code into compliance with recent state law changes and to address technical reform priorities.
Gift said phase one, focused on clarity and enforceability, should conclude in December and will go to the planning board before council consideration. Phase two will examine technical reforms and housing-law compliance and is due next June. The review will solicit input from the planning board, the arbor commission and other stakeholders to identify priorities such as parking-size rules and building-height standards that officials said can affect development viability.
Councilors and staff noted the project also looks at process improvements to streamline development review and improve the city’s ability to attract new business and housing development. Gift said the consultant kickoff occurred two weeks earlier and that weekly meetings are underway.
Ending: The consultant-driven ordinance review will return draft changes for public and board review on the stated timetable; staff said outreach will include affected boards and commissions.
