Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Overlay topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning board asks select board to delay Article 10F changes to May 2027
Summary
After reviewing state housing law changes, York planners voted to ask the select board to pull Article 10F (workforce/affordable housing overlay amendments) from the November ballot and return a fuller, vetted package for May 2027.
Planning staff told the York Planning Board that recent state laws (LD 1829, LD 2173 and LD 2003) materially change density and affordable‑housing definitions, and recommended additional study before sending proposed overlay amendments to voters.
"I think my recommendation is to consider holding off and tabling these changes for the select board," staff said, noting conversations with the Maine Office of Community Affairs and town counsel and the need to align local code with state requirements.
Board member Wayne Boardman moved that the planning board ask the select board to rescind placing Article 10F on the November 26 ballot and consider a May 2027 package instead; the motion was seconded and the planning board recorded a unanimous/near‑unanimous affirmative vote. Planning staff said the additional time would allow a consolidated package covering base zone changes, overlay definitions and related dimensional standards.
The board also discussed commissioning a GIS build‑out and scenario analysis to model the local impacts of the new density standards (constraints cited include wetlands, steep slopes, shoreland and sewer/water availability). Staff said the analysis can include baseline "live today" counts and alternate scenarios that model sewer extension and other reasonable infrastructure changes.
The board voted to convey the recommendation to the select board and to continue drafting the overlay and related code changes for further review.
