Published on February 01, 2024
2024-2025 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT.pdf
24-25 LAND USE ORDINANCE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Below is a summary of the amendments being proposed of the Richmond Land Use Ordinance. The Richmond Ordinance Review Committee has worked for two and half years on the proposed amendments. The full amendments are posted on the Town’s website for viewing, you can also request copies be emailed by reaching out to ceo@richmondmaine.com or come into the Town Office for a hard copy of the amendments. A public hearing will be held in March (TBD) and second in May (TBD).
In reviewing the proposed amendment to the current Richmond Land Use Ordinance please keep in mind that most of the amendments are definition updates, State of Maine statute updates and relocation of standards for better understanding of the requirements. When reviewing the draft ordinance an item in “red” has been added and items crossed out have been removed and/or relocated. Below is a summary of the major amendments and where they can be reviewed in the draft ordinance.
1. Non-Conforming Structure
This amendment allowed for the Code Enforcement Officer to review and approve the reconstruction of a non-conforming
structure outside of the Shoreland. This change can be found in Article 2.
2. LD. 2003
LD. 2003 was passed by the state and towns are required to enforce. LD. 2003 is an act to implement the recommendations
of the commission to increase the housing opportunities in Maine. Fortunately, Richmond already allowed multi family
dwelling and accessory dwelling units. The required changes can be found in Article 3 and 5.
3. Mobile homes
Towns are now required to allow mobile homes wherever a single-family home is permitted. This requirement makes it
unlawful for Richmond to not allow mobile homes in the village district but does state they are not allowed in the historic
district of the village. The required change can be reviewed in Article 4.
4. Subdivision
These amendments allow for a subdivision located in the agricultural district that are less than 10 lots to not to be clustered and are not required to
have a common well and septic system. These amendments can be reviewed in Article 6.
5. Adult-Use Cannabis
Adult-Use Cannabis establishments are already permitted in the highway commercial district, the changes that were
made were to reduce or eliminate the setback requirement from abutting uses. A proposed amendment also allows adult-
use cannabis cultivation to be permitted in the agricultural district. This change can be seen in Article 4 and 5.