This chapter shall be known and cited as the
"Land Use Ordinance of the Town of Wells, Maine," and will be referred
to as "this chapter."
This chapter is adopted pursuant to the enabling provisions of Article
VIII, Part 2, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution, the provisions of 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2691 (Board of Appeals), 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3001 (Home Rule), 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4312 et seq. (Growth Management Law), 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4351 et seq. (Land Use Regulation) and 38 M.R.S.A. § 435 et seq. (Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act).
The provisions of this chapter shall govern
all land and all structures within the boundaries of the Town of Wells,
including any structure built on, over or abutting a water body, a
tributary stream or a wetland.
The purposes of this chapter are to:
A. Implement the provisions of the Town's Comprehensive
Plan;
B. Encourage growth in the identified growth areas of
the community and to limit growth in the rural areas;
C. Promote the health, safety and general welfare of
the residents of the community;
E. Promote safety from fire and other elements;
F. Manage and conserve natural resources;
G. Protect buildings and lands from flooding and accelerated
erosion;
H. Protect archaeological and historic resources; and
I. Conserve natural beauty and open space and visual
access to them.
Whenever a provision of this chapter conflicts
with or is inconsistent with another provision of this chapter or
of any other ordinance, regulation or statute, the more restrictive
provision shall control, unless otherwise indicated.
The effective date of this chapter shall be
January 1, 1994.