CHINA: No new ordinance changes proposed for June 10 town meeting

by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members devoted their April 8 meeting to review of town ordinances, with references to the town comprehensive plan. They decided a joint meeting with China’s comprehensive plan implementation committee would be a useful next step; chairman Toni Wall will invite that committee’s members to the May 13 planning board meeting.

No more ordinance changes are proposed for the June 10 annual town business meeting warrant. Voters will be asked to act on any additional ordinance changes in November, at the earliest.

The June 10 warrant includes four questions dealing with ordinances (see the April 10 issue of The Town Line, p. 2). The only one needing a planning board recommendation is Art. 31, asking voters to amend sections of the Land Development Code. Select board and planning board members unanimously recommend approval.

Wall, some other board members and codes officer Nicholas French would like to see open space subdivisions allowed in China (see the April 3 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). Wall had distributed copies of Arundel’s and Belfast’s ordinances on the topic.

After discussion, Wall volunteered to draft open space subdivision regulations to add to China’s subdivision ordinance, for review at a future board meeting.

A second pending ordinance would regulate electric transmission lines through China. In November 2024 voters approved a 90-day moratorium on such lines, renewable by the select board for another 90 days, to give officials and voters time to create and approve an ordinance.

Wall had a copy of Benton’s, titled “Electric Transmission Facilities and Corridors Ordinance,” which generated questions and comments from board members. She intends to prepare a draft intended specifically for China.

The third ordinance discussion was about a significantly revised cannabis ordinance that would allow retail sales for recreational use. Wall said China now allows retail businesses for medical cannabis only; French said there are currently two in town.

If a majority of China voters have changed their minds since June, 2017, when they approved “An Ordinance Prohibiting Retail Marijuana Establishments and Retail Marijuana Social Clubs in the Town of China,” local regulation would require an expanded local ordinance.

French said the state regulates both medical and recreational cannabis facilities. Local regulations can be stricter than the state’s as long as they are not unreasonable.

Wall shared sample ordinances from Newport and Rumford.

Planning board members will not hold a second April meeting. The next regular planning board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.