BRUNSWICK

A process more than three years in the making culminated this week after the Brunswick Town Council unanimously approved a rewrite of the town’s zoning ordinance.

Anna Breinich, the town’s director of planning and development, said Tuesday she was surprised the council voted to adopt the rewrite, explaining she assumed there may be additional public hearings before final adoption.

“Honestly, I’m glad they did it, even if it was at 11:30 p.m.,” she said.

The ordinance will take effect 30 days from Monday night.

During a hearing, Councilor Sarah Brayman initially said she would not vote for the ordinance because she felt the process was rushed. However, Brayman said that while the ordinance rewrite was not perfect, it was “good enough” for her support, citing the compromise achieved in the amendments.

Councilor Steve Walker had suggested the ordinance should have been addressed one region at a time, or one topic at a time, echoing a public comment of the same nature.

Councilor Jane Millett said the ordinance was complex, and the “proof would be in the pudding,” adding she has faith in town employees and volunteers who worked on the rewrite.

Beginning in the fall of 2013, the town sought the services of Clarion Associates and established the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Committee. The goal was to bring the often-amended 1997 Zoning Ordinance into line with Maine laws and to simplify the structure of zone districts and achieve a better fit with the town’s comprehensive plan.

Among the major changes to the ordinance is the consolidation of 50 districts down to 32.

Five revisions to the ordinance were also adopted Monday night.

The council also adopted an amendment suggested by Steve Walker not to combine the Growth College 1 and Growth College 2 districts. Neighbors in that area were worried about what that proposed change would allow Bowdoin College to do, including constructing storage and warehouse buildings near the athletic fields.

Another important change includes reducing the density allowed in the New Meadows zone so it is in line with the rest of the coastline, and protects natural resources and helps shellfish populations, Breinich said.

Town center districts have gone from three to only one and college districts have been abbreviated from eight to four. Several residential districts in the growth area have been combined as well.

There has also been a complete rewrite of the Shoreland Protection Overlay, creating two new sub-districts — Resource Protection and Stream Protection.

The Rural Brunswick Smart Growth Overlays have also been renamed the Wildlife Protection Overlay.

Other changes were made to overlay zoning districts, where now solar energy collection facilities are permitted in all Aquifer Protection Overlay Districts.

The Flight Path Overlay has also been adjusted from the days of Navy operations to a general aviation airport.

New property development standards have also been rolled out, including solid waste, residential recreation requirements, Cook’s Corner design standards, architectural compatibility, and neighborhood protection standards.

Additional questions, including ordinances regarding internet home rental sites, will be addressed at a later date.

jlaaka@timesrecord.com

Town’s goal

• BEGINNING IN THE fall of 2013, Brunswick sought the services of Clarion Associates and established the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Committee. The goal was to bring the often-amended 1997 Zoning Ordinance into line with Maine laws and to simplify the structure of zone districts and achieve a better fit with the town’s comprehensive plan.