Town of Gorham
PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP NOTES
OCTOBER 4, 2010
A workshop meeting of the Gorham Planning Board was held on Monday, October 4, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. in the Municipal Center Council Chambers, 75 South Street, Gorham, Maine.
The Clerk called the roll, noting that in attendance were Edward Zelmanow, Chairman, Thomas Hughes, Vice Chairman, Lauren Carrier, Thomas Fickett, Christopher Hickey, and Andrew McCullough. George Fox was absent. Also present were Town Planner Thomas Poirier and Planning Board Clerk Barbara Skinner.
REVIEW SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 WORKSHOP NOTES
Thomas Fickett noted two corrections of typographic errors on the first page of the Workshop Notes of September 13, 2010.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT - No report.
1. Proposed Amendments to the Gorham Land Use and Development Code relating to Street Frontage – Restricted Access Road
CHAPTER 1, SECTION V – DEFINITIONS
Mr. Poirier said that shortly after the By-Pass was built, inquiries were received about using the “Bernard Rines Highway” as street frontage. Because it is a controlled access highway, DOT does not permit driveways to be installed unless they are on the three permitted on-ramps of the By-Pass. Staff met with the Town Manager to discuss an amendment to the Land Use Code about removing controlled access highways from the definition of legal street frontage. Mr. Poirier recommended that this be forwarded to the Board’s Ordinance Subcommittee for its review later this month.
2. Proposed Amendments to the Gorham Land Use and Development Code relating to LED Signs: Automotive Fuel Prices in the Village Sign Environment
CHAPTER I – SUBSECTION 1. LITTLE FALLS VILLAGE CENTER DISTRICT
E. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
CHAPTER I – SUBSECTION 2. GORHAM VILLAGE CENTER DISTRICT
E. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS – 10. Signs
CHAPTER II – SECTION III – SIGNS – A. APPLICABILITY
Mr. Poirier explained that Cumberland Farms has made a request to use LED lights in their automotive price signs; however, LED readerboard signs are not permitted in the Village Sign Environment. The LED readerboard signs allowed would be restricted to fuel pricing only, and not to any advertising. Should the LED fuel price sign be permitted, then the entire signage would have to be brought into compliance as well.
Mr. Poirier said if the Board has no concerns, the process can begin to forward this item to the Council for ultimate referral back to the Planning Board for public hearing.
Other Business
Staff will coordinate with Mr. McCullough to set up a meeting of the Board’s ordinance committee. Mr. Poirier asked the Board to consider if there is any aspect of the Land Use Code that should be changed or amended and forwarded to the Council for its consideration. Ms. Carrier asked if the Board can have any impact on the problems the Fire Department experiences on private ways that are inadequately plowed in the winter.
Adjournment
The workshop adjourned at 6:17 p.m. to proceed to the regularly scheduled meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Barbara C. Skinner, Clerk of the Board
__________________________, 2010
F:\TOWN\PLAN\1-Planning Board\Approved Minutes\FY2011\10-October\100410 WORKSHOP NOTES.doc
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