Wilton board mulls demolition permitting process
The Wilton planning board is looking at an addition to the zoning ordinance that would affect demolition projects.
WILTON - Planning board members will continue discussions next week on including a new section in the zoning ordinance, in an effort to bring structure to demolition projects in town.
Code Enforcement Officer Paul Montague said the board intends to look at an article proposed for the town's zoning ordinance, which would set a process in place to regulate the demolition of structures. It would also include language requiring owners of buildings destroyed by fire to set up a reconstruction or demolition plan with the town.
The discussion comes at the heels of recent events involving the Forster Mill demolition project on Depot Street, which was halted in July after a Maine Department of Environmental Protection inspection revealed asbestos insulation had been improperly disposed. Since then, an abatement company has removed all asbestos outside the mill and the owner has been cleared to resume work, although the partially-demolished portion remains standing. Town Manager Rhonda Irish said Thursday that her last conversation with owner Adam Mack indicated he was in the process of securing financing and intended to resume the demolition in the spring. The issue has been discussed at recent meetings, with concerns over the partially-demolished portion raised by selectmen.
Montague said that the Forster Mill demolition was one reason the board was discussing a demolition permitting process, something Wilton hasn't had in the past. "It's been brought to light by that," Montague said.
Currently, property owners must satisfy state requirements, which lean heavily toward regulating the removal of hazardous materials and do not stipulate demolition must be necessarily completed. The planning board was able to review the Forster Mill project, Montague noted, but only through the town's site review process as an attempted change of use. The ordinance does not specifically address demolition.
The article under discussion would require owners to provide written documentation from the MDEP that the demolition project had met their hazardous material requirements. In effect, Montague said, the change would not put new requirements upon property owners as much as bring the already-existing state regulatory process to the local level.
Additionally, developers involved with large-scale projects would be asked to produce documentation for the planning board, supporting that the owner possessed "sufficient financial resources to complete the project." Projects would be required to conclude with the removal of debris from the site and either a new construction project or the property being graded and planted. Failing to clean up the property within 90 days of structure removal could result in fines.
Along a similar vein, the property owners of a building destroyed through fire or a similar incident would be required to secure a demolition or reconstruction permit within 90 days, with work beginning no later than 120 days after the incident. Montague noted the town had issues with owners of fire-gutted buildings in the past, such as a property in the Dryden area that was destroyed by fire in 2007. It took two years to resolve that situation, which concluded with selectmen ordering town crews to remove debris and truck them to Norridgewock.
"If you have something like that happen, you need to get a building permit or a demo permit or something," Montague said, "but you can't just leave us hanging."
All in all, Montague said, the board was looking for an inexpensive, straightforward regulatory process that could be completed with limited paperwork, rather than the more extensive processes required by larger Maine communities.
The demolition article would appear in the zoning ordinance's performance standard section, and would require approval from the planning board and residents at town meeting. Montague said he anticipated the board would discuss the demolition article at their next meeting, then submit it for legal review. Whatever came out of that process, he said, would be brought back before the planning board in the form of a public hearing. Montague said the article, if approved, would appear on the 2012 town meeting warrant if preliminary work was complete at that time.
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Someone loses a home and you are going to charge them for a permit? WOW, I hope I am misunderstanding this.
Thanks Adam Mack, for leaving the town with this massive, boondoggle eyesore! You should be banned from activities in the town for life!
Finally! about time!! Now, let's get that Blight Ordinance on the table. Get to Work. Go.Go.Go.Go!!
If your house is gutted by a fire, who is to say that everything will be cleared up and you get the go ahead from the insurance company in the time frame you are giving?
the town of wilton should have gotten a performance bond on the old forster mill but "no" they didnt do that ,instead they got some out of town lawyers word that it would be torn down and cleaned up ..what about all the asbestos inside that old building ??not only is forsters partially torn apart and dangerous but its a eyesore to the town too.its past time for the selectmen to start working together instead of this being a two-sided deal where 2 are against 3 for the best of the town..
I don't think an insurance company is going to take more than 4 months to settle the claim....Most people take care of their own stuff, but it's the slack people that make these ordinances needed......
with all the old abandoned buildings in town this is way past due.....
Since they weren't paying the workers who were tearing down that building when they were pulling out salvage, or paying for the rental equipment used to take what they did, I'm sure they won't be getting the financing.. They are just stalling and biding their time.
They should have to disclose where they are securing their financing and have an allotted amount of time before the town takes it over. After it's cleaned up, the land should be sold to recover the costs to the town. THEN go after Adam Mack for any deficiency balance, legal fees, etc.
Instead of fretting over the ugly mess that is Depot Street, why not pass an ordinance making Main Street less of an eyesore? Dryden is basically a lost cause but a lot could be done in downtown Wilton. There has been an upside-down dog house (treehouse? outhouse?) on the corner of School Street & Main for a few years now. Mr. Montague should knock on that guy's door sometime...and speaking of eyesores, what's going on with the hapless redemption center next door? There should be a law that businesses look neat and clean or be run out of town....and maybe that abandoned gas station/store across the street could be removed. How many years is the old Keene's going to sit there full of rats and who knows what else? Painting storefronts and planting marigolds is all all and good but maybe it's time to actually clean up the mess that is 21st century Wilton. Just sayin'...
downtown Wilton is also a lost cause, there are 8 buildings that are either abandoned or look the part....there is no parking and no reason for a non-resident to come to town to do any shopping.....tear down the buildings and build a park......
Gordon, I agree with much of what you said, though I do think that while Dryden feels like a bit of a lost cause, it is one of the major "gateways" into or through Wilton. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that section of road is how folks are directed to Weld/Mt. Blue St Park from signs on Route 2. If they take that route, they sure as heck aren't going to head down Main St. to see what the rest of Wilton has to offer before heading to Weld. Marigolds and painting are just a way to help get people inspired--to see what can be done if we gather momentum and work together. I'm also in favor of a true revitalization of the Main St. area. Otherwise, who would want to open a business downtown if this is the welcome we roll out to visitors or even to residents?
Maybe someone could roll that upsidedown playhouse into the street during the next snowstorm so the plow could push it away!
AMEN GORDON !!! I totally agree......Add that big ol' building that has been abandoned beside that corner store (Weld & Main) ...
How many years has it been on the lot in Dryden,corner Union St and Depot. That ain't got cleaned up yet either.
what happened to wilton and drydens pride,, no jobs thats what
Thoughts.
@wiltonwoman. Yes. Get it together, plan and get your mess cleaned up. The house behind goulds service station took years to clean up. We the taxpayers paid the road crew and disposal fee. And we liked it! And yes resident, these things take time ... Communicate. MD AGREED.
Woodsnut. performance bond was discussed. costly.
The PB, I believe still has an opening. A brilliant opportunity for current back seat drivers.