“The Residential Growth Ordinance, as proposed, could be the worst thing to happen to Islesboro since it became a part of Waldo County,” said Islesboro resident Pete Anderson in reference to the proposal presented by the Planning Board at Islesboro’s Special Town Meeting last Oct. 26.
Over 150 voters packed Kinnicut Center in Islesboro to vote on the ordinance. Though Anderson wasn’t alone in his criticism of the planning board’s recommendations, just as many people stood up in support of the ordinance. The meeting turned into an emotionally charged back and forth of the pros and cons of the ordinance, which eventually passed.
A 20-lot subdivision proposed by Leucadia National, an out-of-state developer, propelled the planning board and residents to address residential growth, due to concerns for the island’s sustainability with such a large development (and more possible in the future). Alice Fay, planning board chair, said community members had opposed an earlier plan for a six-month building moratorium. The Maine Municipal Association recommended a residential growth ordinance modeled after those in southern Maine. The planning board held well-attended summer workshops and a public hearing to gain input from town residents. Even those in opposition to the growth ordinance thanked the planning board for its hard work and its recognition of the importance of addressing residential growth.
Fay explained that the primary purpose of the ordinance was to allow sufficient time for the planning board to review and perhaps update Islesboro’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Use Ordinance and Development Review Ordinance to make sure that residential development is sustainable in light of Islesboro’s limited resources and year round population. The ordinance will terminate after three years, or sooner with a majority vote at a Town Meeting or if the planning board reviews and updates sooner than expected.
The Residential Growth Ordinance requires a residential growth permit on new dwelling units before applying for a building permit. If applications are complete, residential growth permits will be given out in the order the applications are received. The residential growth permit expires if a building permit is not applied for within 120 days. Twelve residential growth permits (determined by historical data) can be given out each year, with two designated for Islesboro Affordable Property. Residential growth permits expire at the end of the year.
Pete Anderson argued that a closer look at development on Islesboro would be more “palatable” instead of the “knee-jerk reaction to property subdivision with nothing to back it up.” He said that summer homes account for much of the growth, and a limit on the size of the homes for which a permit can be given would be more appropriate, and would allow year-round people to build homes.
A number of residents worried that limiting the number of homes would cause existing homes to become far more valuable and drive up home prices and taxes. Sue Schnur said that adding in residential growth ordinances “puts a layer of bureaucracy over the bureaucracy.”
After a written ballot, the ordinance passed with 94 in favor and 69 opposed.
Alyson Mayo is an Island Institute fellow on Islesboro.