CAMDEN — The Select Board in Camden meets this evening, Sept. 5, with a full agenda that ranges from hearing concerns about the Route 1 North rebuild process to regulating how blasting rock and other sediment is done in town.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in Street Conference Room, will be broadcast live on cable tv channel 22 and streamed at townhallstreams.com/locations/camden-me

The blasting language is a proposed amendment to the Camden Police Ordinance and was developed at the request of the Code Officer. The ordinance will require contractors to apply for a permit and notify nearby properties of scheduled blasting. Ordinance establishes allowable time periods for setting off explosives. If approved by the voters it will be part of the Camden Police Ordinance. This amendment was recommend by the Planning Board unanimously.

Planning Board Lowrie Sargent said a previous Select Board meeting that blasting projects less than 300 yards will be reviewed by the Code Officer while projects over 300 yards will go to the Planning Board for review.

The meeting’s full agenda includes two other public hearings about proposed ordinance amendments:

B) Shall the town vote to amend the CamdenZoningOrdinance, ArticleXII, SitePlan Review, Section 2 Procedures (5) (b)?

Background: This amendment to the Camden Zoning Ordinance gives the Planning Board the authority to require additional engineering, legal or similar studies from the applicant if the Planning Board, by super-majority vote, determines that they require additional information from the applicant to fully understand and evaluate the application. Until now, the Planning Board has tried to convince some applicants to supply additional information on some projects, but we want the ability to require additional information when necessary. This amendment was recommended by the Planning Board unanimously.

C) Shall the town vote to amend the Camden Zoning Ordinance, Article XII, Site Plan Review, Section 4 Supplemental Information?

Background: This amendment to the Camden Zoning Ordinance amends a section on technical capacity allowing the Planning Board to require that an applicant demonstrates technical ability to fully complete the proposed work in a timely and workmanlike manner and in accordance with all relevant ordinances. The Planning Board has always had this ability for subdivision plans they felt it important to also have it for site plan reviews. This amendment was recommended by the Planning Board unanimously.

D) Shall the town vote to amend Chapter VI Miscellaneous Ordinances, to add a new ordinance, Unencapsulated Polystyrene Ordinance?

Background: This ordinance was drafted by the Camden Conservation Commission. The intent of this ordinance is to prohibit the use of unencapsulated polystyrene in new docks/floats by eliminating the use of unencapsulated polystyrene in dock floats and buoys on Camden’s lakes, rivers and oceans. This Ordinance, if approved, would be phased in with a specific enforcement date be included by 2025.

4. Update on Revaluation with Assessor Kerry Leichtman and Caitlin Anderson

5. Update to use the Washington Street Parking Lot for Family Fun Day on October 14, part of Camden’s Second Saturday program. The October event will be held in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week.

Fire Chief Chris Farley and Community Development Director Karen Brace will be asking permission to close the Washington Street Parking Lot for Family Fun Day, as part of Camden’s Second Saturday program. The lot will be used for children’s activities, crafts, a supervised bouncy house and (with permission) food trucks. The Camden Public Safety Building will be the site for tours of the building and display of fire trucks, hosted by the members of Camden’s Fire Department in recognition of Fire Prevention Week. Other activities will be held around town including history tours and a special story hour at the Camden Public Library.

6. Update on request to consider a book swap box placed at the Tannery Park site.
   

Route 1 North

The Route 1 North Committee Advisory Committee has submitted a position statement about the Maine Department of Transportation’s project rebuilding a section of Route 1 going to the Lincolnville town line.

Statement of Position

By Town of Camden’s Route 1 North Advisory Committee August 1, 2017

We believe the Town of Camden, through its Select Board, should aggressively advocate with the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) for a plan for Route 1 north of the village (specifically the section of Route 1 between Camden Hills State Park and the Lincolnville town line) that improves this section of the road while also preserving its scenic and rural character in accordance with the Town of Camden’s Comprehensive Plan (June, 2017).

To date, we have found MDOT to be significantly unresponsive to the Town’s proposals, and those of individual landowners, with respect to this project.

We believe the Town’s and MDOT’s objectives for this section of road can both be achieved, and would cite the MDOT projects on Route1/High Street in 2005-6 and the recently completed Bakery Bridge project on Washington Street as examples in which both the Town’s and the MDOT’s objectives were achieved. We believe there is a final design plan that can address drainage and safety issues, while maintaining the character of the road that is so important to the economic vitality of the town and region as well the quality of life here.

Specifically, we continue to propose the following modifications to the current plan:

1. Improve drainage primarily by subsurface means, dramatically reducing the need for extensive open ditches and guardrails along the road;

2. Protect roadside trees and the canopy they provide to the maximum extent possible;

3. Create shoulder widths of 4 feet to accommodate bike traffic, but incorporating variability (up and down) throughout the one and one-half mile length so as to allow preservation of landscape features;

4. Minimize road straightening and leveling so as to reflect the rolling character of the landscape; and

5. Utilize clear zone exemptions where necessary to avoid or minimize the removal of trees and stonewalls. In developing and agreeing on the reconstruction of High Street in 2005-2006, the Town and the MDOT entered into a Memorandum of Understanding before the Town would agree to let that project move ahead.

We believe a similar agreement should be constructed for the Route 1 North section, ensuring agreement on the reconstruction plan prior to its being formally adopted by MDOT and construction beginning.

The preambles in that agreement cite, among other things: the application of “context sensitive designs”; the need for “substantial consensus from many parties”; the need to respect “safety…and economic development” while identifying “opportunities for scenic, aesthetic and community enhancement”; and the need to utilize and communicate to the public the use of “design exceptions and techniques”.

In order to constructively advance the project at this point, we recommend a meeting of MDOT and representatives of the Select Board of Camden and representatives of its Route 1 North Committee to clarify and assert the position of the Town.

Signed: Town of Camden’s Route 1 North Committee: Tony Grassi, Chair Jenny Simon, Vice Chair Richard Bernhard Nancy Caudle-Johnson, arborist Jane Lafleur Beedy Parker Geoff Scott

Background: The Route 1 North Committee have asked to meet with Board to discuss the current status of the Route 1 North project and to present their Position Statement from the Committee. The timing is important, as they expect something to come from MDOT soon, and they would like to weigh in with MDOT before they finalize a plan.

8. Public Hearings Regarding Liquor license renewals

A) Application of LongGrain restaurant located at 31 Elm Street for a renewal ClassI Spirituous Vinous and Malt liquor license.

B) Application of Bay View Street Inn at 16 Bay View Street for ar enewal ClassIII Vinous liquor license and Mini Bars in Hotel Rooms

C) Application of Blue Harbour House at 67 Elm Street for a Class V Bed & Breakfast Liquor License

Background: These establishment have submitted completed applications and meets the required standards.

9. Consideration of request of Camden Public Library to close Atlantic Avenue on Saturday, September 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Maker Faire.

10. Consideration of application of Marriner’s Restaurant at 35 Main Street for a renewal victualer license.

Background: This established has submitted completed application and has met the life safety requirements.

Recommended Action: Approval of Victualer License for Marriner’s Restaurant. 1

1. Bid Awards:

A) Wastewater Control Room Heat Pump

B) SeabrightDamRepairs

12. Review of July 2017 Financials

13. Select Board Member Reports

14. Town Manager Report Adjourn