The maps, zoning on property in Houlton Maine.
What does the comprehensive zoning plan ordinance say about residential, business, industrial or rural farm zone uses? It is always good planning to check on the zoning for a real estate property purchase BEFORE you close the sale. Because if you have to be able to have this use that conflicts with zoning regulations, way way better to know about it early one before the purchase. So you can shift gears and look for a suitable property that is wearing the right zoning classification.
Taking the issue to the zoning board of appeals when an exemption to permitted uses is needed all takes time with no guarantee of the outcome.
There is nothing better than looking up online or leafing through the zoning plan. Seeing okay, fine and dandy for the use. The zoning plan for a small town does allow just what you intend to do with the land location and structures planted on top.
Small Maine towns don’t have home owner’s associations (HOA), no snarky layers of zoning regulations or bylaws as a rule. That restrict the use of the real estate big time. In unorganized townships, plantations there is LURC, the land use regulation commission to approve the do’s and don’ts when local planning and zoning boards are missing. On the 250′ zone back from and around your Maine waterways, there is shoreland zoning regulations to wrestle with on new construction.
When your structures were built before the the lake front zoning became law, you are grandfathered in. But when it comes time to hope to add on or to replace a deck with something bigger, to repair a boathouse, whatever. It starts and ends with reading over current shore land zoning regulations.
So back to zoning on property in a small town like Houlton Maine. I was chairman of the local zoning board of appeals and the process works. The comprehensive plan in Houlton Maine, Aroostook County’s oldest town is excellent. Great brains hammered it out to last and endure back in 1966. With updates along the way to reflect the times and changing uses. More on getting a building permit for your Maine land.
What’s the difference in R-1 and R-2 ? What about B-1, B-2 in the Houlton ME zoning regulations?
Driveway permits and their locations are tied to the speed limit by your land and the ease of use when blind spots add danger to your building plans.
The septic system soil test plan for a country location or an area in Houlton ME not served by water or sewer means check the leach field design.
Experiences to share as past chairman of the zoning board in Houlton Maine?
Most of the zoning board meetings are usually held at night and some are rubber stamp quick in and out easy. Others long, drawn out and not so much fun as personalities clash and emotions increase between the podium and the audience.
The typical zoning variance request was someone want to build a larger garage or create an addition to their house.
members. It works against the applicant who says nothing and the legal beagle does all the billable hours talking. Bring in the neighbors, collect the letters of support to reference and plead your case. Do your home work to help the zoning board of appeals see the logic in your request.
It works a lot better than trying to force someone into your way of thinking that may not be in the best interest of the town, the neighborhood at the meeting that you need to respect and consider.
Spot zoning is not the way to guide the growth of your Maine town and the zoning comprehensive plan is a thoughtful, consistent method. To refer to in the where and what kind of building design process is called for, what approved uses are permitted or not. In the determination or opinion in what’s legal, what’s best today and tomorrow for the zoning classifications in place in the small Maine town of Houlton or whatever municipality.
Zoning regulations, what each section of the town of Houlton ME has for classification on the map zone classifications.
Building on raw unimproved land, modifying existing structures you want to use in a new way. MOOERS REALTY is here to help in your buying and selling the local land listings that may need some study to figure out what is allowed in the present town zoning regulations.
207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |
MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730
