During a lightly attended Damariscotta Planning Advisory Committee (DPAC) meeting Nov. 16, committee members addressed confusion about the amount of money spent on the planning process to date, formed a new code writing task force, discussed the hiring of a second code writing consultant for the town, and unveiled the final draft of the Damariscotta Heart and Soul Planning Project.
They also moved to ask Damariscotta Selectmen to incorporate the Heart and Soul report recommendations into the new comprehensive plan, and, because the comprehensive plan won’t be completed for at least two years, they will also ask selectmen to consider a resolution adopting these same recommendations.
The Heart and Soul report outlines five overall recommendations and six “community values” developed during the two year “charrette” process, in which, according to DPAC, over 400 people participated in a series of community discussions about their hopes for the future of Damariscotta.
Specific recommendations in the report include everything from creating green and working waterfront jobs to providing public restrooms downtown and creating a “Welcome to Damariscotta” sign.
Other recommendations include: tackling the downtown parking issue, expanding sidewalks, developing a shuttle bus system, linking GSB School and the YMCA, enhancing connections between youth and seniors, holding waterfront festivals, creating public green spaces and meeting facilities, developing bike lanes and trails, and more.
According to DPAC Chair Robin Mayer, 500 copies of the report were printed, and will be available at the town office, the Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce, Skidompha Library, and at various local businesses.
Three new DPAC task forces were also formed Tuesday night: a code development task force, a business philosophy task force and a DPAC coordination task force.
One DPAC Coordination Task Force priority will be ensuring increased public process as the town moves forward with creating and adopting new zoning and development codes.
On Fri., Nov. 19, DPAC Coordinator Jane LaFleur will meet with Town Manager Greg Zinser and others to discuss the hiring of a second [land use or ordinance] code writing consultant.
LaFleur said there had been some confusion about the amount of money spent to date on the planning and code writing process, because the cash value of in-kind volunteer time had been added into the equation. After the meeting, LaFleur stated that the total amount of actual cash spent over the past two years was $25,000.
According to LaFleur, public meetings about new code development will begin sometime after Thanksgiving. She said, “We must make the public process as inclusive and informative as possible.”
Other issues raised at the meeting included a discussion of parking, public restrooms and the accessibility of the town manager.
DPAC member Sarah Maurer, co-owner of King Eider’s Pub, and the official liaison between DPAC and the Downtown Region Business Association (DRBA), raised concern that Zinser does not have enough visible presence downtown.
LaFleur said Zinser does have plans to spend at least one hour a week downtown, at coffee shops and other businesses, where he will hold informal “office hours.”
“He did commit to that,” LaFleur said, “it’s just a matter of finding time.”
Selectman and DPAC member Dave Wilbur said, “He’s very busy here at the office, running town business; it’s hard for him to get away.”
DPAC member Buzz Pinkham raised the issue of parking and public restrooms, and expressed concern that progress on those issues had stalled.
One DPAC member said there remains ongoing confusion about ownership of the back parking lot, and that the town’s lawyer is working on resolving the question before anything else can happen regarding the parking lot and public restrooms.
The committee agreed to ask selectmen for a timetable regarding these issues.
The next meeting of DPAC will be Tues., Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Damariscotta Municipal Building.