[Amended 8-23-2016]
In consideration of a request for change in zoning classification for a particular property or group of properties under the provisions of §
315-78, the Town Council may impose certain conditions on the use of the property where it finds that such conditions are necessary to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare, and when the Town Council seeks to advance desired land use objectives consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
A. Standards.
(1) Any zone change adopted pursuant to this section shall be subject
to a contractual agreement executed by authorized representatives
of both the property owner and the Town providing for the implementation
and enforcement of the conditions of the agreement.
(2) The agreement shall only include conditions which relate to the physical
development or operation of the property.
(3) Any zone change permitted under this section shall be consistent
with the Comprehensive Plan of the Town, with the existing uses in
the zone, and with the other permitted uses in the zone.
(4) The proposed contract zoning agreement shall clearly describe the
extent of variation (if any) from the lot standards for the zone in
which the parcel is located.
B. Conditions. In considering the conditions for approving a zone change
under these provisions, the Town Council may consider the following
factors:
(1) Limitations on the number and type of permitted uses of the property.
(2) The height and lot coverage of any structure.
(3) The setback of any structure.
(5) The hours of operation for the proposed use.
(6) The installation, operation and maintenance of physical improvements,
such as parking lots, traffic control devices, fencing, shrubbery
and screening.
(7) The creation of open space areas or buffer zones.
(8) The dedication of property for public purposes, such as streets,
sidewalks, paths, trails, parks, utility systems, stormwater management
systems and conservation easements.
C. Procedures.
(1) Application. The applicant shall submit a completed application form
(See Appendix A) to the Town Manager along with the required application
fee and a fee for review of the proposal by the Town Attorney and/or
engineers. The amount of the review fee will be determined by the
Town Manager, and the fee shall be placed into an escrow account to
be held by the Town.
(a)
Town as applicant. If the Town is the applicant for a change in zoning classification for a particular property or a group of properties under the provisions of §
315-78, the application upon approval of the Town Council shall proceed in accordance with Subsection
C(3) below.
(b)
Other applicants. Any Cumberland landowner or his/her authorized agent, or any person having a written agreement to purchase a particular property or group of properties in Cumberland from a Cumberland landowner, may apply for a change in zoning classification for that particular property or group of properties under the provisions of §
315-78.
(2) Staff Recommendation to the Town Council. The proposed application
will be reviewed by the Town Manager and Town Planner, and any other
staff as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Town Manager and
Town Planner. The reviewing staff members will prepare a recommendation
to be submitted to the Town Council as to whether or not to allow
the application to continue according to the process outlined in this
section. If the Town Council votes to accept the application and allow
it to continue through the process, the application shall move to
the next step outlined below. If the Town Council votes not to accept
the application, it will not continue through the process and will
not be considered further.
(3) Neighborhood meeting.
(a)
The Town as applicant under Subsection
C(1) above or on behalf of another applicant as described in Subsection
C(2) above shall invite all property owners within a five-hundred-foot radius of the proposed project to a neighborhood meeting to be scheduled by the Town Council in a convenient location within the Town as determined by the Town Council. Such neighborhood meeting shall be open to all members of the public.
(b)
All property owners within a five-hundred-foot radius of the
proposed project shall be provided by the Town with a copy of the
application submitted to the Town along with at least two graphics
depicting the project, when applicable. The list of property owners'
names and addresses shall be submitted to the Town Manager for confirmation
that the list is correct.
(c)
The Town Council shall conduct the neighborhood meeting and
shall keep a record of the meeting to include any questions raised
by members of the public and a list of the attendees. The record of
the neighborhood meeting shall be retained by the Town and shall be
provided to the members of the Town Council and the Planning Board.
(4) Town Council Workshop with Planning Board. Following the neighborhood
meeting, the Town Council shall hold a workshop with the Planning
Board to discuss the project. If time permits, as determined at the
sole discretion of the Town Council, the public may be allowed to
comment during the workshop as directed by the Council.
(5) Town Council Workshop Public Hearing to Planning Board. Following
the workshop meeting with the Planning Board, the Town Council shall
hear the updated request for a contract zoning proposal and decide
whether to continue consideration of the proposal by referring the
matter to the Planning Board for a recommendation.
(6) Planning Board Public Hearing and Recommendation to the Town Council.
(a)
In accordance with 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4352, Subsection
8, for contract rezoning, the Planning Board shall hold a public hearing
and prior to it post a notice in the municipal office, publish it
twice in the newspaper, and send it to the property owner and all
abutters within a five-hundred-foot radius. The notice shall include
a map of the property and all the proposed conditions of the rezoning.
(b)
The Planning Board shall review the proposed contract zoning
application for conformance with the Town's Comprehensive Plan and
land use goals and make a recommendation to the Town Council. This
recommendation is advisory in nature; the Town Council may act independently
of the recommendation of the Planning Board.
(7) Town Council meeting and public hearing. The Town Council shall hold
a public hearing and, following any testimony, approve, modify or
deny the contract zoning request. If the Town Council modifies the
proposal by doing any one or more of the following, the proposal will
need to be referred again to the Planning Board for a public hearing
and recommendation to the Council:
(a)
Adds to the list of permitted uses.
(b)
Eliminates or makes less restrictive performance standards.
(c)
Reduces setback requirements.
(d)
Increases the density beyond that allowed in the zone.
(e)
Makes any other change or changes which substantially modify
the proposed agreement that was presented to the Planning Board.
D. Term. The term of the contract zoning agreement shall be set forth
in the contract agreement. Any violation of the contract zoning agreement
shall be considered a violation of this chapter and shall be subject
to enforcement under the provisions of 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452.
The contract zoning agreement may include additional provisions concerning
enforcement of specific provisions of the agreement.
E. Amendments. Any and all amendments to any approved contract zoning
agreement shall follow the same procedure as the initial application.
This chapter shall take effect 30 days after its adoption by
the Town Council, unless adopted as an emergency ordinance in which
case it shall take effect on its adoption.