Gray--Why is it so hard for businesses to accomplish
renovations, expansions, or other items that are regulated
by the Town of Gray? Why does it take so long for
businesses to get through the Planning Board process
when in other Towns such processes are streamlined
and enable businesses to get off the ground much faster?
Why does Gray have such a rotten reputation when it
comes to business?
The Community Economic Development Committee (CEDC)acknowledged
at their September meeting that Gray has a negative
reputation when it comes to the Town working with
businesses. As CEDC Vice-Chair Ralph Wink said at
that meeting, "We have sent letters to businesses
encouraging them to come to Gray, but we almost cringe
in fear that they actually will."
He was speaking to the problems with the processes
that businesses must complete once they get to Gray,
or otherwise expand here- the permits, Planning Board
process, adherence to zoning and Code Enforcement.
All Towns have such processes, but in Gray it seems
that once you enter the regulatory quagmire, you can
never leave.
The September CEDC meeting was the first time that
the commonly known but rarely publicly discussed issue
arose. As the problem became more than a blip on Council's
radar, though, Councilors started asking applicants
directly about their experience in Gray's regulatory
processes involving zoning and planning. And more
people have been answering directly and on the record.
Paul Pietropaoli of the October Corporation said that
in their pursuit to install simple riding tails at
their location at Pineland in Gray, it took several
months, they were sent back to the drawing board three
times, and it cost the company a lot of time and more
money.
Often, applicants before the Planning Board often
need to bring an attorney with them and/or an engineer.
"And this was for trails through the woods."
Mr. Pietropaoli said that discussions lagged over
a small portable toilet that the Board wanted installed
in case the children riding the horses wanted to use
a facility. "Not many companies would be able
to afford the legal and engineering fees associated
with the time we spent." He said he would rather
try and work with the Ordinance Review Committee to
review and propose changes to zoning than go through
site plan review at the Planning Board again.
His experience seems to echo many homeowners and businesses
who become frustrated with the lengthy time periods
it takes to get a project approved. As Rod Boyington
said [see related article "Stop Work Order"]
his development went easy as pie in Gorham but in
Gray it was a convoluted nightmare. There are developers
who have said that they now refuse to work in Gray,
and one business speaking with The Monument considering
a move to Gray, a move which would include a huge
expansion for them, is hesitant to do so because of
the Town's bad reputation for business.
The Town Council wants to do something about this
issue and on Tuesday night finalized a charge for
CEDC to investigate what the problems are and what
can be done to streamline processes. CEDC liaison
John Welch said at Tuesday's meeting that in giving
the CEDC its charge, they should "look into why
applicants getting permits or permissions or who are
just seeking understanding of what is required should
not have to scale insurmountable hurdles, but people
do."
