Topsham Planning Board Drops Form-Based Code, Backs Piecemeal Revisions

The Topsham Planning Board voted unanimously to accept the extended portion of Turkey Run road as a town road, then agreed to abandon the form-based code approach in the recode draft and instead work through targeted amendments to the current zoning code. Staff will begin with a redlined use table, with public hearings expected in the winter or spring.

Key points

• The board voted unanimously to accept the extended portion of Turkey Run as a town road, built to town standards, subject to conditions in a staff memo.
• The board agreed not to spend roughly $3,000 for the form-based code consultant to answer questions at the November meeting, since members said no one was advocating for the approach.
• Staff told the board that removing form-based code from the recode draft would require significant redrafting, and that no consultant has been found to take on that work.
• The board directed staff to prepare a redlined version of the current use table in Excel, combining it with elements of the summer's consolidated use table, for review at the November meeting.
• The board also asked staff to revisit the dimensional table, minimum lot sizes, and the Main Street height measurement issue raised during the Aroma Joe's project.
• Resident Curt Newfield spoke in favor of reducing frontage requirements and against pursuing form-based code; Andy Surgeon said he would submit his concerns in writing.

Next steps

• Staff will bring a redlined use table, likely in Excel format, to the November meeting.
• Staff will prepare an updated dimensional table and maps on minimum lot sizes, and will research the Main Street height issue.
• The board plans workshops through February with public hearings in March, with battery energy storage expected in May.
• Staff will wait on data center discussions until the state's advisory council reports in January.

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