CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
WEEKLY MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor MacLean, Councilors and Department Heads
FROM: Anne Davis, Interim City Manager
DATE: February 5, 2010
RE: Weekly Memo
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Next Week's City Meetings are available on our Calendar
On Wednesday, Gardiner City Council will be holding a workshop to review the proposed land use ordinance draft. I am sure many residents in our town feel that they have little or no interest in this document until they come to Gardiner City Hall to get advice on building a structure, erecting a sign or even having horses in their back yard.
The last time Gardiner updated the land use ordinance was in June, 2003. It is this document that determines what districts there are in our city. Do you own a business in the downtown district and wish to put up a sign? Do you live on Brunswick Avenue and want to open up a small business? Are you building an addition onto your house or do you want to install a pool? All of these actions require permits and it is the land use ordinance that directs staff and council on the legality of the project.
The land use ordinance defines our Central Business District, our Rural District, our Planned Development District and our Residential Growth District to name just a few. It is from this document that the Code Enforcement Officer determines the viability of your addition, the placement of your home and the erection of your business signs.
The impact of the land use ordinance can be huge on a resident if they are unfamiliar with the document. I encourage everyone to go to our city website at www.gardinermaine.com and look at the draft document. If you have any questions or concerns about the proposals it is time to contact your Gardiner City Council or to attend the meeting on Wednesday. Unless councilors hear your concerns, they will not be able to address them as they adopt this new land use ordinance.
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