Greenville Select Board OKs setback amendments

GREENVILLE — The Greenville Select Board last week approved a series of land use ordinance amendments that change how far away a structure must be from the property lines in certain sections of town. 

The proposal for Article 5 of the land use ordinance was approved by the planning board 5-0 last month, board chair John Contreni said at the March 5 meeting. The residential and village zoning district setbacks may be reduced from 15 feet with a variance from the code enforcement officer. 

The proposal will advance to the town meeting, Contreni said.

“We’ve had several people come looking to build on a lot that is either too small or is designed in such a way that it is impractical for them to actually build on it with the given setbacks,” Code Enforcement Officer Ron Sarol said of the reason for the amendments.

For example, on South Maple Street, some lots are only 42 feet wide. With a 15-foot setback on either side there is only 12 feet in the middle to use for construction.

“This is an effort to try to get people to be able to build, to be able to use their property in a manner that suits them,” Sarol said.

 “This will create more opportunities for housing,” Town Manager Mike Roy added.

Selectperson Bonnie Dubien inquired about why the setback for primary dwellings was adjusted to 10 feet instead of 5.

Generally, structures are not built right to the property line, Sarol said. He had no problem with this distance being adjusted to 5 feet, which the select board amended.

A property owner would need to meet some criteria in order for the code enforcement officer to grant a variance. These are: 

— Properties that were created prior to the land use ordinance being established in June 1995 and the landowner must show reasonable justification that the setback is necessary.

— Properties that are a quarter acre or less.

— Setbacks can be reduced to 5 feet for accessory dwellings and/or accessory buildings. 

— Setbacks can be reduced to 10 feet for primary dwellings. 

— Setbacks can be reduced to zero for buildings that have a shared wall for example duplexes. 

— Reduced setback must demonstrate no harm to neighbors or public interest.

— These setbacks should not be confused with the minimum shoreland setbacks.

The code enforcement officer said he will likely have some zoning changes to bring forward later this spring so all of these items could be voted on by residents on the same warrant. This could be the annual town meeting in early June if there is no need for a special town meeting before then.

In other business, Contreni, a member of the YES Project Committee, said the Ellis L. Phillips Foundation of Boston has approved a proposal from Little Schoolhouse Childcare for $20,000 to create a natural playscape for children. 

The play area will be adjacent to the future community building on the campus of the Greenville Consolidated School on Pritham Avenue and will include natural areas using hills and boulders to create tunnels and slides, as well as learning opportunities.

The playscape’s plan incorporates some of Greenville’s past into the playground landscaping, such as using old tractor parts or old manhole covers inset into pathways. 

“So there’s a little bit of history of the community in this playscape,” Contreni said.

Trees and shrubs will serve as natural barriers and shade providers as well as learning opportunities. The area will also include sail type shade units mounted to natural wood post beams.

The playscape would go on the east side of the future building, between the structure and school.

Requests for proposals for building construction have been posted on the Maine Municipal Association website. Roy said so far seven requests have come in.

Ground breaking will probably not occur this spring with the bid not being awarded yet, Roy said, adding that late summer is a possibility. 

“The goal is not to have construction itself during the school year,” the town manager said.

The Phillips Foundation has given to Greenville before, having previously supported the creation of the Crafts Landing and Park on the east cove of Moosehead Lake and the restoration of the 1889 Canadian Pacific Railway Depot in Greenville Junction.

Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation President Margarita Contreni, who is a board member of Friends of the Mountain, gave thanks for all the recent media coverage of the “Ski the View, Save the Mountain” campaign. 

Friends of the Mountain has applied for $500,000 through the Northern Border Regional Commission for the acquisition of the 1,700-acre property, Contreni said. 

The goal of the campaign is to provide a permanent nonprofit ski area for the Moosehead Lake region and a year-round outdoor recreational asset that will revitalize the area’s economy. The campaign would enable the purchase of the ski resort and an adjacent 500 acres for projects that help sustain the area.

The property is owned by James Confalone with the 1,700 acres listed with Folsom Realty Group for $5.95 million.

“Right now we have raised $1.1 million towards the project,” Contreni said.

The campaign launched in mid-January as a partnership between the Friends of the Mountain and Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation. Phase I is a $5.95 million goal and Phase II seeks more than $13 million in additional funds through 2030 for more improvements to the site in a $19.65 million project.

The $13 million-plus would open the upper mountain; provide for new ski lifts, snowmaking equipment, and infrastructure upgrades; renovate the upper mountain lodge; develop housing options; and secure private development for hotel renovation.

On March 4 the Piscataquis County Commissioners pledged their support of the initiative. 

Last year 7,500 people came to Big Moose Mountain, and this year the number has exceeded 10,000.