The Gray Town Council on Tuesday approved a plan to rezone the Village Center area, in an effort to spur new economic ventures in the historic center of Gray. //When thinking of a lede, I prefer to show the most immediate effect first, even if it is not detailed fully – something like “Hopes for spurring the local economy grew Tuesday night as the Gray Town Council approved a plan to rezone the center of town.”//

New zoning in Gray Village is part of a revitalization project that will provide some crucial changes to breathe new life into the town’s economy. //Here you might summarize the zoning provisions and work on historic buildings as the crucial changes//

“We’re moving forward. It’s a good thing,” said Council Chairwoman Deborah Mancini.

A few amendments were made to the plan, after the council heard from the Gray Water District during a Dec. 4 meeting. As a result, the Village Center Proper area, the centermost section of Gray Village, was expanded. Originally, there were more limitations on the area, as it was believed that a nearby water recharge station //what is a recharge station? Why would it affect industrial development?// could be affected by industry in the Village Center. But the recharge center is further away from the village than was previously believed.

Under the new zoning ordinances, the minimum lot size in the village center district will now be 20,000 square feet, and impervious surfaces, or paved ground, can cover up to 75 percent on the ground on each lot. And minimum building setbacks will now be zero feet on the sides, and 10 feet on the front and back in the Village Center District.

These more lenient standards make it possible for business owners to build on small lots. The intention is to bring in businesses that have a difficult time setting up shop elsewhere.

“These measures are working to give (business owners) the flexibility needed to work on these very small lots,” said George Thebarge, of Geoplan Consulting, who has been hired to oversee the planning of the project.

Zero setbacks mean that business owners can build right up to their neighbor’s property line. So far, town officials say they have not faced opposition to the new zoning plans.

“We have not heard any objections at all,” said Thebarge, though town officials took into consideration comments from Gray citizens heard during public hearings.

Another component of the revitalization of the Village Center District is the improvement of the facade on several of the historic buildings and storefronts on Main Street. Town Manager Deborah Cabana recently sent a pre-application form to the Greater Portland Council of Governments, asking for $150,000 to improve the look of Gray Village. Cabana asked for the money under the pretense//”pretense” suggests that Cabana deliberately lied when asking for the $// that Gray Village meets “slum and blight” conditions.

The plan is to start with exterior renovations on buildings owned by the town, including the Pennell Institute and other buildings in the village. Thebarge said the hope is that once other Gray Village property owners see the changes in town-owned buildings, they will follow suit. And if they do, the town will be able to assist them with renovation costs, using grant money.

“We’re still in the early stages of planning (the revitalization) but we’re looking at how these measures could be used to help stimulate revitalization of the village,” said Thebarge.

Cabana noted that the process of applying for Community Development Block Grants is a competitive one. But, after having applied for a much larger grant of $1 million last year, Cabana said the town has a much better shot of receiving the more modest $150,000 grant.

“I’m very hopeful. I’m excited about the prospects that we have offered for review, and I hope we are successful. I think this year, we’re trying to be very focused, definitive and creative,” she said.

Thebarge said one thing Gray has going for it is that it is the only town in Cumberland County applying for a Downtown Revitalization Project this year.

“That may make it stand out from the other proposals in a positive way,” said Thebarge.

If Gray is selected for the grant, the money will be available in July of 2008, though the town could begin incurring costs in May. Cabana said she expects to hear back from the Greater Portland Council of Governments in the coming weeks, when they will tell her whether the town is on the right track.