Sprawl-Busters in Belfast, Maine have filed the following report on the latest anti-sprawl activity in their town: Tonight (July 18th, 2000) the Belfast, Maine City Council enacted a moratorium on new retail construction.The moratorium, which passed by a 3-1 vote, will be in effect for six months. The moratorium restricts new retail construction or expansion of buildings of more than 25,000 square feet or with peak traffic flow of more than 100 cars per hour. The first reading of the moratorium was today with the second reading and final vote on August 1. The vote tonight effectively stops any ‘big box’ construction for six months. In the next several months the city will be reviewing existing zoning ordinances to assure the city is correctly zoned and can properly plan for and handle future development. On July 1st, representatives from Wal-Mart announced they would be seeking a zoning change (from residential to highway commercial) on a 38 acre field surrounded by homes, to build a 155,000 square foot superstore. The land Wal-Mart has optioned is 1 1/2 miles from a recently renovated and thriving downtown area and located within one mile of the busy Route 3 & 1 intersection. The downtown is listed on the National Historic Register and is considered one of the best examples of mid eighteenth century architecture in the country. A local citizens group OUR TOWNS – UNITY CREATES COMMUNITY has organized and has been actively letter writing to the two local papers, showing up 150 strong at public meetings, supporting the moratorium and providing public information to the community.
See our entry recently (below) about the various big box battles spawned by the “March on Maine” by companies like Wal-Mart and Home Depot. Citizens in Brunswick and Topsham are also looking at development moratoriums. These siz month ‘breathing spaces” give local officials time to bring their zoning ordinances into the new century, and to put in place “major development review” ordinances and size caps on buildings. For more information on the Belfast moratorium, or samples of zoning ordinances, contact [email protected].
