Scarborough committee advances growth area map under new state housing law

The Long Range Planning Committee met Oct. 9 to continue work on a growth area map required by recent state law, which sets 5,000-square-foot minimum lots in designated growth areas with water and sewer. Members agreed to keep Dunstan in the growth area with caveats, remove the Haigis Parkway area and several other zones, and directed staff to finalize map recommendations and draft text.

Key points

• The committee approved August and September meeting minutes; member Robin Saunders was absent for the September meeting.
• Members agreed to keep the Dunstan area in the growth area but with caveats, while removing the Haigis Parkway zone and the area south of Haigis, citing wet land, environmental sensitivity, and commercial zoning.
• The committee recommended removing Black Point and Highland Road, Running Hill mixed use, and North Scarborough (County Road and Gorham) from the growth area, the latter pending clarity on the Portland West project.
• Members discussed a possible Maine Turnpike exit near Broad Turn Road to divert traffic from Route One and Dunstan, with staff saying they would raise it in upcoming Portland West meetings.
• Staff said the map work does not change existing zoning, only how the state's minimum lot size rules apply in growth areas.
• Members noted frustration that the state law does not require affordability, and discussed the town's low mill rate, impact fees, and reliance on residential taxes.

Next steps

• Staff will finalize map recommendations and draft text for the committee to review, aiming for consensus in November before sending it to the Town Council.
• Staff will raise the Broad Turn Road turnpike exit idea in upcoming Portland West meetings and pursue a referral to the Transportation Committee.
• In January and February, the committee will discuss lot sizes, setbacks, and space and bulk standards, with possible rezoning recommendations in the summer.

Read the full transcript