Waldoboro comprehensive plan committee update

Wed, 05/18/2016 - 7:15am

    WALDOBORO — At a lively meeting on May 16, the Waldoboro Comprehensive Plan Committee moved forward in its agenda to consider the results of the previous plan and current status of the major areas of concern, to develop recommendations going forward.
    Looking back the previous plan, adopted in 1998, planning manager Emily Reinholt said "A large number of the recommendations in that document have been realized. Now it is our task to take changing demographic, economic, and environmental trends, along with citizen input, to develop new recommendations."
    In terms of changing economic data, as derived from state reports, Waldoboro is the largest town, in terms of population and size, in Lincoln County — and it is also among the least affluent. The median household income is approximately 93 percent of the county's and residents living in Waldoboro's downtown have a median household income that is only 54 percent of the county's. Despite the income squeeze experienced by many Waldoboro residents, 18.5 percent of households have incomes exceeding $75,000 and another 23.2 percent have an income between $50,000 and $74,999. Since the early 2000s, Waldoboro has seen the closing of major employers (Sylvania Osram, Taction, Fieldcrest, Science Source, etc.) resulting in the loss of several hundred jobs. In 2012, Waldoboro received a HUD/Community Development Block Program Slum and Blight designation for a portion of its downtown in anticipation of future applications for CDBG downtown funds.
    In terms of occupations, Waldoboro's largest employers are:

    • Clam harvesting: 190 clam harvesting licenses are provided in Waldoboro.
    • MSAD#40, includes the Miller Elementary School, Middle School and High School located in Waldoboro
    • Borealis Bread Bakery
    • Hannaford Supermarket

    Folding these data into the plan, particularly in light of the continuing focus on the purity of the Medomak River, will be a major focus of the committee. Several other categories, such as historic data assets and transportation, were also discussed.
    At the same time, a well-attended coffee klatch, with assessor Daryl McKenny as the guest, was hearing comments and question dealing with land use and taxes. Further information about the trending data, committee plans, and meeting minutes can be found at the website Waldoboro.me.