Gray Council intends to rezone land
Only 2% now zoned for business
By Elizabeth Prata Salvetti

Gray--At their April 2 Council meeting, Gray Council Chair Pam Wilkinson explained that since only 2% of land in Gray is zoned for commercial purposes, the Council will engage in discussions concerning where and how to release more land zoned for business. "This is something that is long overdue," Wilkinson said.

She explained that residential uses are currently placing a high demand on the tax base, and an effort to diversify current zoning is needed. Town Planner Richard Cahill was instructed to look at current zoning maps, and without looking at old zoning maps, to draw where he thought it reasonable for new lands to be re-zoned for general business development. "The lines almost coincided," Wilkinson said, referring to the former General Development zones and where Cahill had drawn the proposed Business Development (BD) lines.

Gray resident Fran Monroe said that she thought the issue should have been sent to the Ordinance Review Committee first rather than being handled at the Council level. She also said that the Comprehensive Plan update is not completed and there is more to be learned from that process before rezoning land. "What’s the rush?" she asked. "I think you need more public input, and your speed with this thing makes me suspicious, frankly." Wilkinson said that discussions will continue during the April 8 Council meeting, which is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. in Stimson Hall.

Community Economic Development Committee member Lynn Olson said that the Route 100 Tax Increment Financing water main project slated for 2.4 miles along Route 100 south of the Gray Plaza is "still viable." She told the Council that "We had an excellent meeting with the Gray Water District and both of us are looking forward to the project going forward." She said all that is left to do is to know what the project will cost, whether bids can be put together, sent out, and received by the 2002 construction season, and whether the work can be completed by the TIF’s closing date of February 2002. She said that if the CEDC puts out bid specs without the permitting being completely finished, "as long as it is disclosed," that would help speed the process. The TIF project was approved by the voters almost five years ago, and it is now coming to a construction point ten months prior to the closing date.

The engineering feasibility report conducted by Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers stated that the project as originally envisioned is not feasible. There would not enough revenues generated by the TIF to fully support laying water pipe for all 2.4 miles. Their recommendation was that one segment of the project be completed. Olson said that she had created a new summary of revenues reflecting a new cash flow summaries, and that the CEDC is fully behind the total project.

Monroe’s comments on the subject were that any change from what was originally voted on would need to be "presented to the citizens for their consideration again." Town Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz said that an Attorney’s opinion was being sought on that subject. The project will be discussed again at a Council meeting on April 8.

In other business, the proposed fee schedule, tabled at the March 19 meeting pending further clarification requested by Councilor Sue Austin, remained on the table. It is expected to be discussed again at the April 16 Council meeting.