Code of Maine Rules
06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL
Chapter 1244 - SHORELAND ZONING ORDINANCE FOR MUNICIPALITY OF WHITEFIELD

1. The Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act (Act) requires all municipalities to establish zoning controls in areas within 250 feet of the normal high-water line of any great pond or river; within 250 feet of the upland edge of a freshwater wetland; and within 75 feet of the normal high-water line of a stream. Such zoning standards must be consistent with or no less stringent than those in the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances (Guidelines) as adopted by the Board of Environmental Protection (Board).

2. The Guidelines were revised by the Board, effective March 24, 1990, and again on July 14, 1992. The revised Guidelines include more stringent land use standards than the Board's earlier Guidelines. In addition, the revised Guidelines contain new zoning and land use provisions for activities in shoreland areas adjacent to streams and freshwater wetlands as required by the Act as amended in January of 1989. Following the Board's revisions to the Guidelines in 1990, the Maine legislature, and the Board as authorized in 38 M.R.S.A. Section438-A(2), established July 1, 1992 as the deadline for local ordinances to be amended consistent with the Guidelines.

3. 38 M.R.S.A. Section438-A(4) requires the Board to adopt suitable zoning ordinances for municipalities which fail to adopt shoreland zoning ordinances consistent with or no less restrictive than the Guidelines.

4. The municipality of Whitefield has failed to adopt a shoreland zoning ordinance consistent with the Board's Guidelines within the time frame established by the Board. As of February 24, 1993 the municipality of Whitefield has not revised its shoreland zoning and land use standards consistent with the Board's Guidelines.

5. The Board can ensure that the municipality of Whitefield has adequate shoreland zoning and land use provisions for all shoreland areas within the municipality by adopting the Board's Guidelines ordinance and an appropriate zoning map based on the districting criteria contained in the Guidelines, for the municipality.

6. On October 26, 1992 copies of the Guidelines and draft zoning map were forwarded to the municipality of Whitefield for public comment. The Board also advertised in newspapers of state-wide circulation, its intent to adopt the Guidelines and zoning map for the Municipality.

7. On November 23, 1992 the Department met with the selectmen to discuss the proposed ordinance, and on December 9, 1992 the Department attended a public meeting at the Whitefield Town Hall to further discuss the proposal. Based on comments at the public meeting and from other written comments received, the proposed zoning map was revised. The revisions adjusted freshwater wetlands boundaries to exclude forested wetlands and forested components of other wetlands.

BASED on the above FINDINGS OF FACT, the Board makes the following CONCLUSIONS:

1. Whereas the deadline has past for municipalities to amend local shoreland zoning ordinances consistent with the Board's Guidelines, and whereas the municipality of Whitefield has failed to do so, the Board has a responsibility to adopt a suitable ordinance for the Municipality.

2. The Board can adopt a suitable ordinance for the Municipality by adopting the provisions contained in the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances, as amended July 14, 1992, with an appropriate zoning map based on the districting criteria contained in the Guidelines.

THEREFORE, THE BOARD HEREBY ORDERS AND ADOPTS for the municipality of Whitefield, all of the provisions contained in the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances, as amended July 14, 1992, for all areas within 250 feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of any great pond or river; within 250 feet, horizontal distance, of the upland edge of any freshwater wetland; and within 75 feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of all streams, as defined in 38 M.R.S.A. Section436. The Board further Orders that the map entitled Town of Whitefield Shoreland Zoning Map adopted by the Board of Environmental Protection is hereby incorporated into the Ordinance.

This ORDER shall remain in effect, and shall be binding upon the municipality of Whitefield until amended or repealed by the Board, or until the municipality of Whitefield adopts a shoreland zoning ordinance, consistent with the Board's Guidelines, and is approved by the Commissioner.

1. On April 2, 1994 the Board of Environmental Protection adopted the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances and a shoreland zoning map for the town of Whitefield. Such action was necessary after the town failed to adopt a suitable ordinance as required.

2. On January 14, 1995 landowner, Andrew Berry, petitioned the Board of Environmental Protection to change the zoning adjacent to a freshwater wetland off route 218 near Preble Cemetery from the Limited Residential District to the Limited Commercial District. The subject area includes approximately 1320 feet of frontage along the east side of the wetland. The purpose of the rezoning request would be to develop a portion of his property as the base for his business, Maine Helicopters, Inc., which is currently located at the Augusta State Airport.

3. The wetland is not designated as a moderate or high value wetland, based on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's 1973 wetlands inventory. Rezoning the parcel to Limited Commercial will not result in lesser environmental standards under the Ordinance.

4. The Board of Environmental Protection held a written comment period in order to gather public input on the proposed change. Public comments were accepted until May 30, 1995 at 5:00 P.M.

5. The Department received written comments from only Mr. Berry. Mr. Berry submitted a copy of a letter form the planning board stating that that board would grant Mr. Berry preliminary approval of his project, pending a zone change by the Department. Mr. Berry also stated that all abutting landowners had been notified of his proposal, in writing, and that no negative replies had been received.

BASED on the above FINDINGS OF FACT, the Board makes the following CONCLUSIONS:

1. The proposed zoning change is consistent with the Department's minimum Guidelines for municipal shoreland zoning ordinances.

THEREFORE, THE BOARD HEREBY ORDERS that the official zoning map adopted as part of the State-imposed Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for the municipality of Whitefield, be amended by placing the area on the east side of the freshwater wetland on the property of Andrew Berry and located east of Route 218 (approximately 1320 feet of wetland frontage), in the Limited Commercial District. (See Appendix A).

1. Since 1974, the Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act (MSZA) has required all municipalities to establish zoning and land use controls in areas located within 250 feet of the normal high water line of any great pond, river or saltwater body. In 1989, that requirement was expanded to also include areas within 250 feet of the upland edge of freshwater and coastal wetlands, and within 75 feet of the normal high water line of streams.

2. The Board establishes minimum guidelines for the local land use control ordinances. The MSZA authorizes the Board to establish a deadline for municipalities to adopt local ordinances consistent with the Guidelines and the purposes of the MSZA. The MSZA also authorizes the Board to adopt shoreland zoning ordinances for those municipalities which fail to adopt a suitable local ordinance.

3. On March 24, 1990, the Board of Environmental Protection amended the Guidelines. The Board also established July 1, 1992 as the deadline for amending local ordinances consistent with the Guidelines. The municipalities listed in Appendix A did not meet the July 1 deadline, resulting in the Board adopting the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances, including amendments which became effective on July 14, 1992, for those municipalities. Those state-imposed ordinances can only be amended by the Board.

4. Additional amendments were made to the Guidelines effective August 7, 1994. It is the responsibility of the Board to amend the state-imposed ordinances for the municipalities listed in Appendix A, in order to make those ordinances consistent with the current Guidelines.

5. The August 7, 1994 amendments as listed in Appendix B, and made part of this Order, include provisions which allow.:

6. Amendments referred to in paragraphs A. , B. , C. , D. above, result in a relaxation of the Guideline standards. Paragraph E. requires additional permitting activities, whereas that paragraph establishes a greater area of jurisdiction.

7. No written comments were received during a written comment period which ended on December 1, 1994.

BASED on the above Findings of Fact, the Board makes the following CONCLUSIONS:

1. The municipalities listed in Appendix A (attached) are subject to a state-imposed shoreland zoning ordinance consisting of the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances, effective July 14, 1992. It is the Board's responsibility to amend the existing state-imposed ordinances, consistent with the August 7, 1994 amended Guidelines. However, the Guideline amendment which broadens the scope of the shoreland zone to include structures located beyond the normal highwater line, is not a mandatory requirement and should not be imposed upon the municipalities listed in Appendix A.

THEREFORE, the Board hereby AMENDS the State-imposed Shoreland Zoning Ordinances for the municipalities listed in Appendix A (attached), by adopting as the text of the ordinance, the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances, effective August 7, 1994, except that the ordinance shall not apply to those structures located beyond (waterward) the normal high water line or upland edge of a wetland.