The Planning Board administers the Subdivision Regulations, the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, the Notification of Construction Ordinance, the Floodplain Management Ordinance, and the Resource Protection and Timber Harvesting Ordinance. Remember, that any harvest of over 25 cords requires a permit. There is no fee involved. Additionally, FairPoint New England and Central Maine Power Companies require Planning Board, or other town official, approval for any new service connections.

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA PLANNING BOARD HELD JANUARY 23, 2008

As no quorum was present, no formal meeting was held in December.

The January meeting convened at 7:00 PM. Members present were Waine Whittier, Alan Williams, Bob Bassett, Nanou Laliberte, and Creston Gaither. Minutes of the November 28 meeting were read and accepted.

This meeting was not advertised as a public hearing despite the November decision to do so because the State has postponed the deadline for Shoreland Zoning Ordinance (SZO) updates until 2009. On learning this the board informally agreed to hold off on Vienna's update until then. At the present meeting this decision was formalized and the board agreed that this would allow it to continue to consider timber harvest standards and to consider the Comprehensive Plan, which is proposed for adoption at the March town meeting.

Creston and Waine were re-elected as secretary and chairman unanimously. The recruitment of an alternate was briefly discussed.

The interpretation of the SZO map and the location of steep Resource Protection Districts (RPDs) was discussed at length. Creston offered an informal written summary of his thoughts. The board agreed to continue this discussion next month; Creston will meanwhile contact Rich Baker and MMA for their thoughts.

The Van Woerts' proposal was discussed. In view of the aforementioned RPD discussion it was agreed that Creston should write to them saying that they should either pick a flatter spot for their proposed site, present acceptable evidence that the proposed site in fact slopes less than 20%, or wait until next month's discussion and the board's resolution of its RPD questions.

Creston will ask CEO John Archard about permits for construction apparently underway on the Paul Weckbacher property on Kimball Pond Rd (Map 3 lot 64).

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.

Creston Gaither, secretary

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA PLANNING BOARD HELD FEBRUARY 27, 2008

The meeting convened at 7:00 PM. Members present were Waine Whittier, Alan Williams, Bob Bassett, Nanou Laliberte, and Creston Gaither. Also present were Kay and Ned Van Woert. Minutes of the January 23 meeting were read and accepted.

The Van Woerts advised the board that they would like to proceed with their Shoreland Zoning permit application as previously submitted rather than alter it. The board therefore agreed that, prior to considering their application, it should formally establish its policy regarding the zoning of steep areas not graphically depicted as Resource Protection Districts (RPDs) on the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance (SZO) map.

The board discussed this issue at length and reviewed correspondence from, and discussions with, DEP and MMA. Creston moved that, as operative planning board policy, the SZO map should henceforth be construed as placing in the RPD only those areas graphically depicted on the map as RPDs irrespective of the 20%/2 acre note on the map. This policy was adopted by a vote of 3 – 1 with one abstention.

The Van Woerts' proposal was then considered. Given the aforesaid policy, the proposed construction site falls within the Limited Residential zone under the SZO. The board made findings of fact as per p. 19 of the SZO, found the proposal conforming, and voted 4 – 0 (with one abstention) to authorize Creston to issue the usual permit by letter, subject to the usual conditions regarding silt fencing and to an emphasis on the owners' responsibility to see that the project meets the required setbacks.

In response to a query from Norma Wing it was agreed that the board's approved minutes can be published in the Vienna Record .

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.

Creston Gaither, secretary

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