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Belfast planners propose smaller, more structured in‑town design review committee; board forwards changes despite residency objections
Summary
Staff proposed shrinking the in‑town design review committee from 15 to 9 members, setting staggered three‑year terms, creating an acting chair role, and requiring majority voting; the board voted to forward the amendments to council after a divided debate on whether members must live in Belfast.
Planning staff presented draft ordinance language to streamline the in‑town design review committee at the Sept. 11 meeting, saying the intent is to standardize practices, create predictable terms and clarify quorum and chair responsibilities.
Bob Fournier told the board the draft would reduce membership from 15 to 9, set staggered three‑year terms, add an acting‑chair provision so the committee selects a chair for a given meeting rather than relying on staff, and require a majority of members at a meeting to carry motions. He said staff used other city committee practices as models and consulted the city attorney on legal issues, including residency requirements.
Board members debated one central issue at length: should committee membership be limited to residents of the City of Belfast, or be open to residents of Maine (or even nonresidents with ties to town)? Louie Baker argued that nonresidents should not serve on a committee that issues permits; other members said the committee benefits from outside expertise and that the city attorney advised a Maine‑residency requirement may be the appropriate legal floor. The board took a straw poll that indicated a narrow split on requiring city residency.
Despite the residency objections, a motion to accept the draft changes as discussed passed; several members said they would oppose recommending the package specifically because it did not make city residency mandatory. Fournier said the amendments will go to city council, where public hearings and two readings will precede any adoption.
The board asked staff to prepare clearer guidance for rotating acting chairs and noted that the council and the committee can further refine membership and appointment processes.
