AUGUSTA — The City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on proposed new zoning ordinance definitions that are meant to bring clarity to where soup kitchens, homeless shelters and religious activities can take place in the city.
A pending vote on definitions of group homes, rooming houses, shelters, meal centers, food pantries and religious activities might end up being a split decision. City Manager William Bridgeo anticipates councilors could vote on most of the definitions Thursday but table action on the two most controversial definitions.
Councilors are scheduled to take a final vote, but Bridgeo said he anticipates the definitions of meal centers and food pantries, and of religious activities and places of worship, probably will be tabled to allow time for additional deliberations.
Bridgeo said there seems to be “broad council support to go forward with all but the last two” new definitions, all of which were proposed in an effort to clarify city zoning rules after officials and residents expressed concern about the possibility the St. Mark’s Church property, which is for sale, could be sold and turned into a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, or a similar use.
Area religious leaders have expressed concerns about the city even trying to define religious activities and what constitutes worship.
Others also have expressed concern about the city placing restrictions on where facilities such as soup kitchens and food pantries could be located and how many hours they could operate if they are part of a church’s activities.
Zoning ordinance changes also were proposed, meanwhile, to clarify the definitions of group homes and rooming houses, in part to address definitions that the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals deemed too vague in overturning a city code enforcement officer’s previous ruling denying an application for a female veterans’ home on Summer Street.
Bridgeo said the new definitions of rooming houses and group homes weren’t controversial when last discussed by councilors.
Another unresolved controversial issue, proposed changes to the city’s blasting ordinance, is also up for discussion and possibly a council vote Thursday.
Last week councilors heard a presentation from the technical supervisor for Gardiner-based Maine Drilling and Blasting, the firm contracted to blast rock in a quarry owned by McGee Construction off West River Road in Augusta. He spoke about blasting and when it does, and does not, present a potential danger to property.
The proposed changes would reduce the standards for allowable blasts in quarries in Augusta to just 15 percent of the city’s current standards, which are already lower than state blasting standards. Blasting and construction company officials said last week that standard would be so low it wouldn’t be economically feasible to continue blasting rock for construction projects.
Industry representatives said last week they would work with the city staff to come up with a potentially new standard as a compromise in time for consideration at Thursday’s meeting. It would reduce the vibrations coming from blasts but still allow the companies to operate their quarries.
At-Large Councilor Jeffrey Bilodeau also said he expected residents of the Grandview neighborhood, which is next to the McGee pit, to attend Thursday’s meeting to talk about the blasting’s effect on their lives.
Councilors plan to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the council chamber at Augusta City Center. Councilors also are scheduled to:
• Consider a final vote on a proposed yard sale ordinance that would limit yard sales to three days in duration and to no more than six sales per year per property;
• Consider authorizing Bridgeo to apply for a $125,000 state grant to, in partnership with five other area law enforcement agencies, create a drug abuse diversion program; and
• Consider certifying the election results from Nov. 8.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647
Twitter: @kedwardskj
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