A decade ago, controlling growth was a popular topic in many Maine towns, some of which tried to halt development or preserve their rural character with restrictive building permit caps or large-lot zoning.

Since the start of the recession, however, investment is scarce and unemployment strikes many as a bigger danger than overbuilding.

It’s hard to draw much of a conclusion from a single vote, but it looks like Bridgton residents’ emphatic thumping of a pair of anti-development referendums this week indicates that most people are not ready to say “no” to potential investors.

By a 2-1 margin, voters turned down referendums that would have banned fast-food and “formula” restaurants and would have limited retail developments to 30,000 square feet. The second question was designed to prevent big-box stores from sprouting in town but also would have prevented existing businesses from expanding.

Other towns have enacted similar bans, but an up-or-down vote on such sweeping restrictions is probably not the best way to decide a complicated issue.

It may be that Bridgton can preserve its downtown while still accommodating national chains elsewhere. If the town had a comprehensive plan, residents could identify where growth would be appropriate and what areas should be left as they are.

One outcome of Tuesday’s vote may be the creation of a comprehensive plan committee, which would take a longer look at managing the town’s growth.

From the vote, it doesn’t look like the majority of Bridgton residents are interested in harsh limits, but they may be able to build a consensus around keeping in place what people most like about the town.

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