Protecting water quality in local lakes theme of Vassalboro planning board meeting

by Mary Grow

Protecting water quality in Vassalboro lakes, especially Webber Pond, was the theme running through most of the discussion at the April 2 Vassalboro Planning Board meeting.

The issue was presented by representatives of the Conservation Commission and the Webber Pond Association; was the purpose of board member Paul Mitnik’s suggested amendments to the town’s Shoreland Zoning Ordinance; and was discussed during review of Ron Blaisdell’s application to replace a storm-destroyed shed on Norton Road, in the Webber Pond shoreland.

The only exception was a brief discussion with Raymond Breton about an application for a new business at 913 Main Street, in North Vassalboro. His small building has housed a series of commercial tenants.

Breton said he has filed six applications on behalf of potential business owners in the last few years. The agenda says the latest is Paula Stratton, doing business as Passion Photography Maine; Breton said the building would become a photography studio.

Board members tabled the application Breton filed at the March meeting because instead of repeating information for the seventh time, he answered most questions “N/A” (not applicable) – the simplest application he ever filed, he said indignantly, and the board tabled it.

Chairman Virginia Brackett explained that “N/A” is not an adequate response. Breton could have written “No change” instead, she suggested. The board again tabled the application.

Webber Pond Association (WPA) President John Reuthe, Conservation Commission spokesman Holly Weidner and others presented information about the need for a watershed management plan for Webber Pond and Three-Mile Pond.

Blaisdell’s application was to replace a shed on Christopher Kew’s lot that was destroyed by a fallen tree. He planned the replacement to be 64-square-feet, instead of the original 54-square-feet. Because the shed is less than 100 feet from Webber Pond’s high-water mark, board members said it cannot be expanded, but can be rebuilt the same size.

Such a non-conforming structure should also be moved farther from the water, if possible. Blaisdell convinced the board majority that because of the slope of the lot, moving the shed is not feasible.

Much of the hour-long discussion was about relocating the building and about requiring other changes, like replacing storm-toppled trees or installing run-off control measures. Board members decided for a replacement, they have no authority to add requirements.

Blaisdell’s application was approved 4-1. Mitnik dissented, because without seeing the property, he was not convinced the shed could not be rebuilt farther from the water.

At their March 12 meeting, the rest of the board encouraged Mitnik to draft proposed ordinance amendments to strengthen water quality protection. Mitnik distributed a document that focused on requiring trees be planted on shorefront lots in connection with most applications for building work.

The topic will be continued at future meetings. Board members do not intend to ask voters’ action at the June 3 annual town meeting.

Webber Pond Association (WPA) President John Reuthe, Conservation Commission spokesman Holly Weidner and others presented information (also shared with the select board; see the March 28 issue of The Town Line, p. 3) about the need for a watershed management plan for Webber Pond and Three-Mile Pond.

Weidner said including the planning board is part of creating a communications network to support a coordinated effort.

Brackett replied that the planning board’s job is to implement policies, not to make them. She suggested it is time to review and update Vassalboro’s entire comprehensive plan (named a strategic plan when it was adopted in 2006, she said, because state regulations then required a comprehensive plan to include zoning and Vassalboro’s plan has no zoning).

A watershed management plan would be a useful part of a comprehensive plan, Rebecca Lamey and Peggy Horner suggested.

Reuthe and others said about one-third of the over-abundant phosphorus in Webber Pond comes from Three-Mile Pond, one-third from the surrounding land and one-third from the sediment in the bottom of Webber Pond.

In other business April 2, Codes Officer Jason Lorrain said Tim Dutton applied for a six-month extension to his permit to re-open the former East Vassalboro corner store, as board members suggested last month. The extension was approved unanimously.

Lorrain expects representatives of Sidereal Farm Brewery, on Cross Hill Road, to attend the May 7 planning board meeting to talk about changes made since the business was approved more than four years ago.