Planning board approves forwarding several ordinance changes to selectmen; joint public hearing set for Sept. 2

At its Aug. 4 meeting the Town of Wells Planning Board reviewed a broad package of ordinance updates and took action on several items that could appear on the November ballot. Planner Mike presented the memo summarizing proposed changes and legal review by the town attorney.

Domestic poultry (chickens): The planner said the state had considered overriding home-rule provisions but ultimately did not; the town attorney advised that retaining the town’s current domestic-poultry ordinance is optional. The board voted unanimously to recommend no change to the town’s existing domestic-poultry ordinance given that no local problem was identified.

Timber-harvesting ordinance: Staff proposed changes to align with state rules and to address shoreline zoning implications; because DEP review would be required before changes that affect the shoreline zone could go to voters, the board favored moving the draft forward to selectmen but did not expect it to meet the Sept. 2 ballot schedule.

Affordable housing and ADUs: The board approved revised language to split a prior combined ballot question into two separate questions (one for affordable housing and one for ADUs). The ADU language was adjusted to match recently passed state law (transcript reference to LD 1829) that broadens the definition of ADUs; the town attorney advised that the town may still limit ADUs to one per lot. The board approved forwarding the revised affordable-housing and ADU language and scheduled a joint public hearing with the board of selectmen on Sept. 2 to meet ballot deadlines.

Sidewalks: The proposed changes expand the sidewalk ordinance to cover the Route 1 corridor study area including Chapel Road and College Drive, add thresholds (commercial development, new dwelling units, or full tear-down/rebuild) that trigger sidewalks, and remove or limit the option to contribute to a sidewalk fund. The board moved the language forward and scheduled the joint public hearing.

Subdivision law and state changes (LD 1829): Planner Mike warned that state changes affecting the statutory definition of “subdivision” will take effect Sept. 24 and could exempt up to four dwelling units created on a lot from planning-board subdivision review. The board discussed training and outreach; staff noted a training window for municipal officials and planned to set up or recommend training on the statutory changes.

The board’s votes on forwarding the affordable-housing language, the ADU language (as revised to reflect state law), and the sidewalk ordinance were unanimous. The planning board and the board of selectmen must hold a joint public hearing on Sept. 2 for any measures the town plans to place on the November ballot.