Ogunquit Planning Board Works Through Growth Area Zoning Overhaul

The Ogunquit Planning Board held a workshop on September 28, 2026 to continue drafting a zoning ordinance amendment that would create a designated growth area and consolidate several zoning districts. Members worked through definitions, district renaming, dimensional standards, and parking rules, leaving several questions for the town attorney and more map work for a future workshop.

Key points

• The board agreed to add definitions for "growth area" and "qualified affordable housing development," with the affordable housing income limit set at 120 percent of county median income.
• Members decided to keep the general business district name rather than call it a growth district, and to rename the downtown business district the village business district.
• The board discussed but postponed action on restricting short-term rentals such as Airbnbs, with members saying the current ordinance change is already substantial.
• Members settled on a minimum net residential density of 5,000 square feet per structure for up to two dwellings in residential districts with public water and sewer, and 20,000 square feet without.
• The board agreed to reduce building coverage in the growth area to 20 percent and to keep frontage at 75 feet, leaving 100 feet for lots without sewer and water.
• Members raised the idea of merging the RR1 and RR2 residential districts, which appear to have identical standards, and asked for more review before deciding.

Next steps

• The chair will finalize the summarized ordinance language and send it to a board member to mark up in strike-through format for the public hearing and ballot.
• Several questions will be sent to town attorney Mary, including how density applies to structures with multiple units and whether affordable housing can be restricted in shoreland zones.
• The board will discuss scheduling the next workshop and map revisions at the end of the regular meeting.
• Members suggested a possible future feedback workshop with affected property owners on cleaning up split zoning lines along Route 1.

Read the full transcript