Greenville residents to vote on land use changes
GREENVILLE — A special town meeting to vote on two items being brought forward by the Greenville Planning Board has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, prior to a regular Select Board meeting.
The articles, if approved, would allow for some conditional businesses in a portion of the downtown and adjust the setback on the water side of Beech Street.
The first “would change the ordinance for properties around town here, non-use to conditional use for businesses that want to be in town rather than outside,” Planning Board Brent Ireland told the Select Board on Aug. 19.
Code Enforcement Officer Tim Post had received inquiries from a couple about opening a car wash in Downtown District 2. The easiest way to do this would be to change the land use table, which currently states there is no conditional use. The adjustment would give the Planning Board authorization to approve requests or not.
Setback rules for Beech Street properties along the stream would be adjusted rather than having the zoning changed. The setback from the water would go to 75 feet from 100 feet, enabling easier construction on something such as a garage.
In other business, a groundbreaking ceremony for the YES (Youth, Education and Sports) Building will be scheduled in the fall after being coordinated by the town, school and others involved in the project.
The $3.15 million municipal facility will house pre-kindergarten and childcare facilities and a community center on the Greenville Consolidated School Pritham Avenue campus with construction costs covered by grants and donations.
Some confusion arose when the Moosehead Caring for Kids Foundation, which is working with the town and school on the YES Building, looked to schedule a groundbreaking in the immediate future without fully involving the municipality.
The possibility of having U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine attend when she is scheduled to be in town for the Timber Way housing development on Thursday was considered. Collins helped secure some of the project grant funding. If possible she would attend a groundbreaking when a date and time is set.
With Recreation Director Sally Tornquist’s last day before retirement being Friday, he successor Joe Jardine was introduced to the Select Board.
The two have been meeting and “he’s got some great ideas coming up for some improvements for the facilities,” Tornquist said.
“I think he’s the best person for the job,” she said.
Tornquist was given a plaque recognizing her time as recreation director and thanked by town officials.
In his report, Town Manager Mike Roy said Town Clerk Tammy Firman submitted her plan to retire in August 2027 to give Greenville a year to find her successor.
Roy will again serve on the county budget committee. The first meeting is Thursday, Sept. 3, and the committee will be meeting weekly through December.