The Town Council and Planning Board will both be holding public hearings in January seeking input on possible changes to the Zoning Ordinance.

The Town Council will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 12th to consider an amendment to the Business A District that explicitly lists "multifamily" as a permitted use and adds a definition of multifamily to the Zoning Ordinance. The BA District currently lists multiplex as a permitted use and further establishes dimensional standards for both multiplex and multifamily. For that reason, it appears that multifamily was contemplated as a permitted use, however, the Code Enforcement Officer has determined that multifamily cannot be considered under the "multiplex" permitted use category. This amendment would make multifamily an explicitly permitted use and further clarify the ordinance by adding a definition for multifamily. (Click here to view text) (Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required )

At the same meeting, the Town Council will also be holding a public hearing to consider amendments to the Business B District and also to amend the Zoning Map to rezone the gravel pit located at 31 Fowler Rd from Residence A to Business B. The amendments have been requested by the Murray family in an effort to consolidate their business by moving the contracting office located on Shore Rd to the facility located at 31 Fowler Rd. Both facilities are nonconforming in their respective zoning districts. The proposed amendments would expand the BB District to make earthwork operations a permitted use. Three related definitions would be added to the Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Map would also be amended. (Click here to view text and map) (Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required )

On January 18, 2005, the Planning Board will be holding a public hearing to consider an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that would reduce the Resource Protection 1 setback from 250' to 100' for properties in the Business A District that are connected to public water and public sewer. (Click here to view text) (Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required )

At the same meeting, the Planning Board will also hold a public hearing on an amendment to reduce the minimum lot size for nonconforming lots served by public sewer from 10,000 sq. ft. to 7,500 sq. ft. The policy review has been motivated, at least in part, by a desire to increase the availability of affordable housing in Cape Elizabeth. The Planning Board proposal would require that lots between 10,000 sq. ft and 7,500 sq. ft. only be buildable if the lots were made permanently affordable in accordance with the Mandatory Affordable Housing Requirements currently in the Zoning Ordinance. (Click here to view text) (Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required )

For all the amendments depicted, the underlined text is proposed to be added to the ordinance and the text that is struck through is proposed to be deleted. For more information, contact the Town Planner at 799-0115 or ceplan@maine.rr.com