Land use committee formed

PARIS — A committee to draft a zoning ordinance was formed on Monday, after months of attempts by the Board of Selectmen to recruit a pool of acceptable candidates.

The committee is not expected to finish its work any time soon.

"It will probably be a one- to two-year project," said Town Manager Phil Tarr.

Tarr recommended that the committee draw on the resources of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Government (AVCOG) in order to facilitate its work.

"At some point in time, it would be recommended that we use a person from AVCOG," said Tarr. "That person has been through this process before, will keep the group focused, and should be able to write the ordinance as it goes along."

Chair Ray Glover agreed.

"Believe me, they are expert at these subject matters," said Glover. "I like the way that they handle their assistance. They didn't force anything upon us. They gave us explanations and options and let us work out the details and the language, and they put it together into a written document."

AVCOG's participation would be one of several expenses that the committee could incur.

Selectman Lloyd Herrick suggested that potential future casino revenues could be appropriately directed to fund the effort. Selectman Ted Kurtz said that he would prefer to fund the project from existing revenues, which he said would be more reliable.

The people who were seated on the committee were Cynthia Burmeister,  past president of the Paris Hill Historic Society; citizen Jacalyn Lynch, who expressed an interest in maintaining the quality of the area's natural resources; farmer David Shaw; Dennis Creaser of Creaser Jewelers; business owner and landowner Robert Ripley; Franca Ainsworth of the Paris Planning Board and  the Paris Nature Conservation Commission; past-president of the Cobble Hill Association Bruce Sargent; and Ryan Lorrain, who is sergeant-at-arms of the state house of representatives and has expressed an interest in running for selectman.

Applicants Jack Richardson and The Reverend Anne Stanley withdrew their names from consideration.

The committee is charged with developing land-use rules that are in keeping with the Paris Comprehensive Plan.

The 10 goals of the Paris Comprehensive Plan include encouraging suitable economic development, enhancing the South Paris Village, maintaining the historic value of Paris Hill, balancing Route 26 development with a desire to minimize development of a strip between Market Square and the West Paris town line, controlling residential densities, protecting environmental resources, and maintaining agriculture, woodland, open space and wildlife habitats.

Selectwoman Jean Smart moved to accept all eight applicants, a motion that was seconded by Herrick and passed unanimously.