Land Use Information

Land Use Ordinance (Click here to use the Town of Bar Harbor Land Use Ordinance Chapter 125

Explanations for Proposed Land Use Amendments - June 2023 Town Meeting


NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

TO THE BAR HARBOR LAND USE ORDINANCE

 

“Double Setback Distances,” “Floor Area Ratio,”

“Conversion to Multifamily Use,” and “Underground Utilities”

 

Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 4:00 PM

at the Municipal Building (93 Cottage Street)



This is to notify and inform the public that, under the authority provided in Section 125-9 of the Bar Harbor Land Use Ordinance, the Bar Harbor Planning Board will hold public hearings on four proposed amendments to the town’s Land Use Ordinance on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 4:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 93 Cottage Street in Bar Harbor. The public is invited and encouraged to attend and participate at these hearings.

 

Please see important information at the end of this notice about the possibility of a remote participation option for this meeting.

 

The proposed amendments are summarized below:

 

Double Setback Distances

This amendment would remove a standard in the Land Use Ordinance that requires principal buildings constructed in a subdivision where no lots are created be located so that the distance between the principal buildings is double the setback requirement for the district in which the subdivision is located.

  • Draft order, dated December 8, 2022 (underlined text is a clickable link)

 

Floor Area Ratio

This amendment would remove all references in the Land Use Ordinance to Floor Area Ratio.

  • Draft order, dated December 8, 2022 (underlined text is a clickable link)

 

Conversion to Multifamily Use

This amendment would remove standards in the Land Use Ordinance specifically for the conversion of existing structures into multifamily dwelling units I or II.

  • Draft order, dated December 8, 2022 (underlined text is a clickable link)

 

Underground Utilities

This amendment would remove a standard in the Land Use Ordinance requiring that all site and subdivision plan projects must install utilities underground.

  • Draft order, dated December 8, 2022 (underlined text is a clickable link)

The public hearings on January 4, 2023 are being held so that the Planning Board can take comment from the public. Public comment is encouraged at the hearings. Such comment may also be submitted in advance of the hearings by email to the Planning Board at planningboard@barharbormaine.gov or by regular mail to 93 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609.

 

In turn, the Town Council will later hold public hearings to accept or reject the final amendments for the warrant for the June 13, 2023 Annual Town Meeting.

 

Anyone with a disability wishing to attend the January 4, 2023 Planning Board meeting and who may have questions about how best to do so should contact Assistant Planner Steve Fuller by calling 288-3329 or by sending an email to sfuller@barharbormaine.gov.

 

Copies of the proposed amendments, dated December 8, 2022, are available for public review in the Planning & Code Enforcement Department office, located in the Municipal Building at 93 Cottage Street in Bar Harbor. The documents can also be reviewed on the town’s website at https://www.barharbormaine.gov/207/Land-Use-Information.

 

Under the requirements of Section 125-9 C. of the Bar Harbor Land Use Ordinance, notice of the public hearings is being published in the Mount Desert Islander on the publication dates of December 15, 2022 and December 22, 2022. In addition, also under the requirements of the Land Use Ordinance, all property owners in the town of Bar Harbor are being notified by U.S. Mail.

 

**  REMOTE PARTICIPATION INFORMATION  **

The Planning Board has adopted a Remote Participation Policy that allows it to use means of remote participation under certain circumstances. By 4:00 PM on Thursday, December 29, 2022, it will be determined if remote participation will be an option for the January 4, 2023 Planning Board meeting and public hearings.

 

To find out if remote participation will be an option, and if it is an option how to join the meeting via Zoom, go to https://www.barharbormaine.gov/282/Planning-Board after 4:00 PM on Thursday, December 29, 2022.

 

All Planning Board meetings are broadcast live on Spectrum channel 7 (in Bar Harbor). They are also streamed online at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/bar_harbor_me and archived on that website for later viewing after the meeting.