CHINA: Work begins on updating town’s subdivision ordinance

by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members and Codes Officer Nicholas French began work on updating the town’s subdivision ordinance, which is Chapter 3 of the Land Development Code, at their Oct. 8 meeting.

Board Chairman Toni Wall said the subdivision ordinance has not been amended in years, as far as she knows. The copy on China’s website, under Ordinances, Policies and Orders, refers to two 1985 documents. Wall added that in her 14 years on the board, she has reviewed two subdivision applications.

French proposed two reasons for bringing the ordinance into the 21st century. With housing in short supply, he said, some of China’s large landowners might be thinking about developing residential subdivisions. And he recommends eliminating the current ordinance’s prohibition on cluster housing.

Cluster housing, also called open space subdivision, allows houses to be grouped on part of a piece of land, leaving the rest as public open space, providing buffers and recreational areas. French considers cluster housing compatible with China’s rural nature, and a more efficient use of space, since fewer streets and driveways are needed.

Board members used the Oct. 8 meeting to go through the ordinance, which is 28 pages long on China’s website, chinamaine.org. They proposed minor changes, like updating the references to 1985 documents; discussed wording that could be clarified; and planned areas to be reviewed more intensively.

The next China Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Oct. 22.