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Board opens public hearing on state parking changes, postpones action to include mobile‑home park issue
Summary
The board held a public hearing on zoning changes to comply with state LD 4 27 (reducing multifamily parking minimums and expanding off-site parking allowance) and unanimously voted to postpone a recommendation so staff can include mobile‑home park language and ensure appropriate public notice.
The Auburn Planning Board opened a public hearing and discussed proposed zoning amendments to Chapter 60 intended to conform local rules to state LD 4 27 on parking minimums, but members voted unanimously to postpone action to the March meeting so a missed mobile‑home park change can be included and publicly noticed.
Staff described the amendment as one of three housing-related laws the state passed. The proposed edits remove a 1.25-space multifamily formula, allow required off-site parking to be within a quarter mile (instead of 1,000 feet) when supported by a shared-parking agreement, and require documentation demonstrating adequate off-site spaces. Staff told the board the change is intended to lower parking costs that can act as a barrier to housing development.
Board members sought clarification about where the change comes from (LD 4 27), whether staff can impose “reasonable conditions” on off‑street parking serving businesses, and whether the municipality can require minimum durations or other terms in a parking agreement. Staff said Auburn defines abutters as property owners within 500 feet and that the state law limits municipalities from imposing additional barriers beyond verification of adequacy, though staff recommended clarifying language for enforceability.
Resident Steven Beale raised a notice concern, saying adding mobile‑home parks as a category might be a substantive change requiring separate public notice. Board members and staff agreed that if the mobile‑home language was not in the packet, they should either act only on the packet items or postpone to incorporate it with proper notice. The board voted unanimously to postpone and set a date certain for the March meeting so mobile‑home-park language and notice can be addressed.
The board’s action forwards the packet (or a recommended package) to the city council after any edits and a subsequent council public hearing; staff will draft language reflecting the board’s recommended edits for the council packet.
Next steps: staff will prepare updated ordinance language that incorporates the mobile‑home park provision (removing the two-spaces-per-unit minimum where appropriate), clarify parking-agreement terms and durations, and return to the planning board with notice for the March meeting.
