Comprehensive plan could benefit Hebron

HEBRON —  Of the 34 towns in Oxford County, Hebron is one of only three currently without a comprehensive plan, according to Beth Francis, chair of Hebron's planning board. 

Voters at town meeting will decide what sum to raise and appropriate to assist drafting a plan that will be presented to residents at a future town meeting.

Town meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at Hebron Station School.

The town has requested $15,000 to have a plan drafted by the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, according to the town meeting warrant.

The town has been without a plan for two decades. 

In October 2012, selectmen approached the planning board about whether it would be interested in researching the development of a comprehensive plan for approval at annual town meeting. 

At the time, selectmen felt a comprehensive plan was worth discussing, since state guidelines had changed to no longer require a zoning ordinance. 

The last time a comprehensive plan went in front of the town was in the 1990s, when voters expressed their opposition to a zoning ordinance, said selectmen at their October 22 meeting. 

"This earlier requirement seemed to be one of the main reasons the previous Comprehensive Plan was not accepted by the town in 1993," Francis wrote in a February 18 e-mail to Selectboard Chairman Dick Deans. 

"At the time, significant time and money had been spent to develop a Comprehensive Plan only to have it not accepted at the next Town Meeting," she wrote.

According to Francis, the planning board has decided to avoid a  repeat of this process and instead gauge the town's interest by seeking funding at Saturday's town meeting.

At first, she said, the current planning board was unfamiliar with the purpose of a comprehensive plan, potential benefits and cost to develop. However, after several monthly meetings and two special town meetings the planning board has learned that there are many benefits to a comprehensive plan. 

For instance, having a plan in place gives the town the ability to legally charge an impact fee to developers to offset extra potential expenses that may occur, such as costs of extra fire protection, road maintenance or school costs, Francis explained. 

"The alternative is to raise property taxes to pay for the impact of a larger development," she said. 

She said the town would also be more likely to receive grant money to help offset expenses for extensive roadwork or its bridge repairs with a comprehensive plan in place.

According to Francis, after receiving input from citizens, the planning board has decided to contact AVCOG's Senior Land Use Planner John Maloney for advice and an estimate of what it would cost to draft the plan. 

If voters at town meeting agree to fund the expense, Francis said, a committee of volunteers would come together to work on the plan. 

Other potential benefits of a comprehensive plan include acting as a guide for town officials when addressing issues "to shape or maintain the character of Hebron," Francis said. 

According to Francis, having a plan in place also provides assurance for current residents and potential buyers of property that the town will maintain its good character and value.