PHIPPSBURG
The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday night will consider a planning board request to include a new land-use ordinance on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Lee Rainey, the town’s code enforcement officer, explained that the planning board rewrote the ordinance to comply with the comprehensive plan, approved by residents six years ago. When the new ordinance came up for a vote during the town meeting in April, however, the vote was a 236-236 tie.
“That meant that it didn’t pass,” Rainey said.
Rainey said that many residents objected to the new ordinance because of perceived restrictions at campgrounds in town.
“The campground section allowed only RVs, so many people figured that leaves out fire pits and picnic tables,” he said. “The planning board clarified that, to allow them.”
Among other elements in the proposed new land-use ordinance:
— Increase allowed building height to 40 feet.
— Rental of private campsites.
— A reduction in road setbacks required on private roads.
Also on Wednesday night, selectmen will present a letter and plaque from the Maine Municipal Association, which presented the town its Supreme Award for the town report.
Mike Young, town administrator, said that the award represents a true group effort.
“The credit goes to the townspeople as a whole,” Young said. “It’s a team effort.”
Young added that department chairs make significant contributions to the town report.
“I’m just the guy who puts the information together,” he said. “It’s not just a municipal report, it’s more of a Phippsburg report.”
Phippsburg also received the Supreme Award for first place in 1961 and 2011. It won the Superior Award for second place in 2008 and 2010.
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