Greenville Planning Board explores housing density
GREENVILLE — Residents of Greenville approved at a Dec. 6 special town meeting the creation of a multigenerational housing district on Spruce Street. The purpose of the new district is to permit developers to build from 22 to 28 housing units on the 5.5-acre property.
The planning board, which presented the ordinance to town residents for their approval, saw increased housing density as a tool to create more housing units in the town at lower cost and, thus, more accessible to future long-term renters and homeowners.
Greenville’s population has been in decline since 1960 when it hit its highpoint of 2,025 residents. By the time of the 2020 census, the town’s population had dropped to 1,437. Greenville has room to grow and, indeed, must grow if we are to keep our school and increase the tax base.
The planning board is betting that more new housing that is affordable will attract additional residents to town adding to Greenville’s workforce and overall economic well-being.
Since the new ordinance was approved, property owners have come forward requesting extension of the multigenerational housing district to include new properties in town.
Greenville is not the only municipality thinking about creative ways to increase housing density.
In April 2022, the Maine state legislature passed LD 2003 which was subsequently signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills. Towns across Maine must update their ordinances to comply with LD 2003. The law allows for additional density for affordable housing developments as well as the addition of between two and four dwelling units per lot where residential uses are permitted. The law also allows “accessory dwelling units” on the same lot as a single-family home.
The Greenville Planning Board is working to adapt the town’s Land Use Ordinance to comply with state law by the July 2024 deadline. Once the planning board has drafted changes to the ordinance, it will hold an information session to share the changes with residents.
The planning board meets at 5 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month and is open to the public. Questions? Contact Ron Sarol, Greenville code enforcement officer, at 207-695-2421 or ceo@greenvilleme.com or John Contreni, planning board chairperson, at 207-695-3871 or jcontreni@outlook.com.