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Wells Planning Board forwards ordinance to let funeral homes expand in residential zone
Summary
The Planning Board voted unanimously to forward a proposed ordinance amendment to the Board of Selectmen that would define 'funeral home' as a use and allow it in several zones, enabling an existing nonconforming facility to expand and triggering a ballot question this November.
The Town of Wells Planning Board on Aug. 5 voted unanimously to forward a proposed ordinance amendment that would create a defined land‑use category for “funeral home” and allow it in several zoning districts, including the applicant’s current Residential A (RA) district.
The proposal was presented by Kendra Amzel, a civil engineer with Sebago Technics, who said the Bibra facility is presently a legal nonconforming use and is seeking to expand with an additional chapel and more parking. “They are trying to expand their building by adding another chapel as well as adding parking to their existing facility,” Amzel said during the public hearing, and described a proposed off‑street parking standard (she said the team used a 1 space per 100 square feet guideline, noting some nearby towns use tighter ratios).
Planning staff summarized prior workshops and recommended including the RA district along with the RC (residential‑commercial) and GB (general business) districts in the ballot language so that funeral homes would be an explicit, limited new use in those zones. Staff emphasized the proposed definition is intended to be limited to funeral‑home operations and not to open RA to other business uses.
After brief board discussion and no public opposition at the hearing, a member moved to forward the text change to the Board of Selectmen for placement on the November ballot; the motion passed unanimously. The planning board’s action is a recommendation; the Selectmen must schedule their own hearing and the proposed ordinance would appear on the ballot if the Selectmen approve placement.
What happens next: the Planning Board forwarded its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen, who will decide whether to place the measure on the November ballot; if placed on the ballot and approved by voters, the ordinance amendment would allow existing funeral facilities that are currently nonconforming to expand where the new use is permitted.
