Oldtown planners preview new stormwater ordinances, debate state mobile-home mandate and set up comp-plan work

Planning staff told the board they will bring two separate post-construction stormwater ordinances next month that will be incorporated by reference in the site-plan and subdivision ordinances to implement changes related to chapter 500.

"It basically follows chapter 500 but they've made some changes to it and what we need to do is adopt those two ordinances," staff said, noting the approach avoids wholesale rewriting of multiple ordinances. Staff flagged that the rules increase erosion- and sediment-control inspections for disturbed areas over one acre and will require more pre-permit meetings under a low-impact development approach.

Members also discussed statewide legislative changes affecting mobile homes. Staff stated that the state is mandating municipalities allow mobile homes more broadly: "the state is mandating that I allow a mobile home to go anywhere in the city," and added that local governments can set design standards such as pitched roofs, residential siding and foundation types and may impose an age limit (for example, allowing models manufactured in 1976 or later). Board members suggested a workshop to craft local standards and to allow time to review the state timeline.

The board also confirmed it has hired a consultant, Isabelle, who grew up in Oldtown and will lead the comprehensive-plan update. The consultant will convene public events and a comp-plan committee composed of public- and private-sector participants to review current plans and advise updates.

Board members requested staff circulate ordinance drafts for review before the next meeting and suggested a November workshop to address both the new stormwater rules and the mobile-home standards. No final action on the ordinances or standards was taken at this meeting.