Greenville Planning Board approves affordable housing density ordinance

GREENVILLE — For much of 2024, the Greenville Planning Board has been working on an affordable housing density ordinance to be in compliance with state regulations — LD 2003 “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions.”

During a June 18 planning board meeting Chair John Contreni said Code Enforcement Officer Ron Sarol provided his latest ordinance draft for review. Contreni said he had a few updates of his own and after a review the finalized version was accepted.

The chair said the ordinance would become the 21st section of the larger Greenville Land Use Ordinance.

“I think that completes our work with LD 2003, I will check with Ron to make sure and if that is the case we will present to the select board,” Contreni said. This would likely be done at the Wednesday, July 3 meeting, and a special town meeting would be scheduled if the select board gives its approval.

The state had required municipalities to be in LD 2003 compliance by July 1. “We are probably going to miss that goal,” Contreni said. He previously said there most likely would be no consequences for missing the deadline.

In April 2002, the Maine Legislature enacted and Gov. Janet Mills signed into law Public Law 2021, ch. 672. Legislative Document 2003, as it is commonly known, is intended to address the shortage of housing in Maine by removing regulatory barriers to creating additional housing.

The main provisions of LD 2003 address three specific housing issues. First, the legislation allows for additional density for affordable housing developments. Second, it allows for between two and four dwelling units per lot where residential uses are permitted. And third, it allows accessory dwelling units on the same lot as a single family home.

Decreasing the minimum lot size to from 10,000 to 7,500 square feet in the residential, downtown 1 and 2, village, and village commercial districts enables Greenville to increase the density of homes on properties which will help with the density compliance requirements of LD 2003.

Per guidance on the act from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the law is designed to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers to housing production in Maine, while preserving local ability to create land use plans and protect sensitive environmental resources.

The act guidance has sections relevant to municipalities, identifying amended sections of state law. Amendments include allowing for additional density for affordable housing developments in certain areas; generally requiring that municipalities allow between two and four housing units per lot where housing is permitted; requiring that municipalities allow accessory dwelling units to be located on the same lot as a single-family home under certain conditions; and requiring that the state establish statewide and regional housing production goals and set forth ways in which local governments can coordinate with that goal.

In other business, Contreni said with Greenville’s police department having moved out of the town office and across Minden street to the new public safety building, the code enforcement office will now be housed in the former police space and the town clerk’s office will be in the former home of code enforcement.

The new 19,000-square foot public safety building houses the fire department and police department as well as a community meeting room. 

“As you all probably know he moved his office from that corner over there, the Western corner to the Eastern corner in the old police department,” Contreni said. “So stop in and see him sometime, it’s much more spacious. He used to have one room, now he has a suite of rooms where he can put his file cabinets and everything.”

Contreni welcomed Michele Weirich as the new first alternate planning board member and said a second alternate is still being sought. Weirich’s term runs through 2027.

Those interested in applying for the other position can do so on the town website at https://greenvilleme.com/boards/planning-board.

The planning board reviews applications and then passes the candidate’s name along to the select board for formal appointment. 

The alternate sits in and votes in that session if one of the five regular members is unable to attend. Alternates can attend meetings regularly, and are encouraged to do so, but would not vote with all five planning board members present.