Good Neighbor code concepts

1. Good Neighbor code concepts Planning Board Presentation & Discussion November 21, 2017

2. Land Use & Zoning Committee Framework for the Code • Information prior to Opening Public Hearings on December 5, 2017 • Comprehensive Plan Goals and Strategies - Chapter 11- Future Land Use • Future Land Use Maps – 2005 & 2014 • Future Land Use Area designations 2005 & 2014 • Questions to consider in review and discussion

3. Land Use District Concepts & Boundaries • Do you agree with the fundamental principles, goals, development & preservation concepts that establish the land use districts? • What geographic areas & their proposed boundaries are of most concern & why? What would you like to see happen in these areas?

4. Comprehensive Plan Land Use Goals, Districts & Boundaries Based on: • An understanding of Bridgton's water and natural resource systems. • The historic development of the community; • 2005 Comprehensive Plan; • A desire to preserve a traditional New Englandvillage and countryside pattern, and to keep itscharacter intact; and, • Extensive public input over a multiple year effort. The designation of growth and rural areas reflects the Town’s desire to preserve this traditional development pattern. To accomplish this basic policy, the Town must avoid suburbanization of the community. Downtown Village Districts & Inner Corridors designated as Growth Areas (due to sewer & services)

5. Protect the character of Bridgton while preserving the private property rights of its citizens • Minimal restrictions meant only to protect residents from incompatible uses, protect natural resources, and preserve the existing character of the landscape • Encouragement and incentives to direct commercial growth to appropriate growth areas

6. Comprehensive Plan Goals • Protect the Town’s many natural resources • Water quality • Wildlife habitat • Woods • Views • Lakes, streams and swamps • Protect the character of the Town’s rural neighborhoods • Walkable, bike-able, quiet country roads • Fields and wooded buffersalong the roads • Protect and encourage the Town’s working resources • Forestry • Agriculture

7. Comprehensive Plan Designated Districts • Downtown Village Business • Downtown Village Neighborhood • Inner Corridor • Outer Corridor • Outer Village Neighborhood • Rural Neighborhood • Lakeside Neighborhood • Conservation Planning Areas • Medical Distric

8. Bridgton Downtown Business Districts October 18, 2017

9. Downtowns Are: Walkable – Have comprehensive parking plans- Highest density of development- Interesting Architecture- Visual interest- Ground floor retail-Center of social activity - Focal point for events and entertainment -The Heart of the Town

10. Currently Defined Downtown Village District Sign Ordinance 2005

11. Village Vision • 4-4-1-1 - “create a vibrant Downtown Village Business District that attracts residents and tourists alike and results in an 18-hour economy making it economically beneficial for property owners to remodel or construct new buildings.” • Retain and protect the New England village character of the downtown and the outlying villages through thoughtful planning and the use of development and design standards -human-scale, walkable, pleasant, dense, and accessible. • Expand and nurture economic growth that contributes to the vitality of the downtown: Expanded goods and services; Expanded activities, entertainment, recreation; Jobs ; Commercial tax base ; Enhanced quality of life; Growth area of the town with clean reliable sewer.

12. The Village in 4 Parts • DVB I – Downtown Village Business - the historic core- pedestrian village • DVB II- Downtown Village Business II – transitions to the historic core – mixed compatible uses, accessible by foot, bike, car or transit. • DVR – Downtown Village Residential - the residential neighborhoods in and around downtown Bridgton – protect & encourage infill & expanded residential to be served by sewer. • MD – Medical District

13. Pedestrian Oriented Retail A shopping experience that offers a variety of goods for residents and visitors, where goods are easily carried while walking. Examples include convenience and specialty foods, gift shops, clothing stores, bakeries, seasonal, unique and antique collections, books and stationary stores, camera or gadget shops, toy or game stores, bicycle and jewelry stores, art, crafts, second hand or resale stores, small professional & personal care & support services.

14. DVB I – Downtown Village Business The historic heart of the town The Downtown Village I Business District is easily identified by Bridgton’s historic mix of uses, eclectic architecture and pedestrian activity in and around Main Street. The rehabilitation of older buildings is encouraged and new construction should add, improve, and complement existing development. . Businesses should remain unique, independent, enterprises offering complementary yet diverse goods and services appealing to both residents and visitors. The scale, pattern and character of the historic town center shall be maintained. • Pedestrian Environment – Shops oriented to the Pedestrian experience – Store front windows and ground floor retail, services and eateries. • New building mass, scale, and orientation to follow existing historic patterns • A balance between “seasonal” and resident goods, services and employment. • Encourage all new retail & restaurants to locate downtown • Parking located to the rear : new parking to be accommodated by shared parking on Town lots .

15. Standards appropriate for pedestrian village

16. Downtown Village Business District II Residential and commercial A transition from highways into the downtown Reflects walkable densities and some pedestrian amenities

17. DVB II –Downtown Village Business transitional densities and mixed uses The Downtown Village II Business District creates a transition into Bridgton’s downtown, where the traffic slows and the street character changes. New development in these areas should reflect historic patterns while enriching the experience for people coming into Town. The enhancement of pedestrian circulation to and from the downtown, residential neighborhoods, and into outlying districts is a major goal for development in this area. Rehabilitation of existing buildings and lots is encouraged and new construction shall respect the existing scale, location and massing of adjacent buildings and driveways, so as to limit clutter and driver confusion. New development shall seek to combine drive-ways, signage and parking wherever possible.

18. DVR – Downtown Village Residentialneighborhoods walking distance to downtown • Village Residential - The purpose of this district is to retain and expand the residential opportunities within walking distance to the downtown. Uses include higher density residential, community facilities, and appropriately scaled home based business suitable for a central business area and mixed use village. • New building mass, scale, and orientation to follow existing historic patterns

19. MD- Medical District • Supporting an expanded regional medical designation for area residents and visitors • A long-term goal for both the hospital and the town • Protect historic homes, increase multiple modes of travel, (ped, bike,transit, ADA) monitor traffic increases • Dependent on sewer capacity & Hospital Master Plan

20. Public Comments Include: • All window store fronts should be filled with visual interest – art displays, maps, information- if vacant for more than 30 days • Historic structures/elements or design should be retained in some form • Store fronts should be set-back from sidewalk to allow better entry-ways, outdoor seating or display areas • What does an “intentional mix” look like? • Ground floors should be dominated by ped oriented retail, dining, experiences or visual interest • Lighting needs to project down • Green accents should be cultivated • Materials of wood, brick & stone should help create cohesiveness without uniformity • A comprehensive parking plan is needed to stop scattered, individual paved areas in downtown • A BID, Business Improvement District, should be formed to oversee the development & promotion of Downtown ( a board of 5 to start?)

21. Bridgtons’ Corridors November 1, 2017

22. Commerce on our highways Inner & Outer Corridors

23. Comprehensive Plan Goals and Strategies • Expand and nurture economic growth with plans for commercial development in designated growth areas along the inner 302 and 117 corridors • 5-1-1-1 - encourage well-placed, well-designed development for the town's betterment and to protect Bridgton's small town appeal. • 5-4-1-1 - have well-designed development along the corridors that is both highly functional and visually appealing.

24. What makes our rural roads and neighborhoods what they are ? And what makes the highway approaches to downtown Bridgton different from these country roads? • It is the contrast between areas of largely untouched, natural beauty, downtown, and small, more compact villages, that is the product of the Town’s historical development. The designation of growth areas and rural areas reflects the Town’s desire to preserve this traditional development pattern. To accomplish this basic policy, the Town must avoid suburbanization of the community.

25. Inner Corridor • These are the areas of highway corridor coming in and out of town and at risk for further decay, sprawl and unattractiveness. As an extension of the density and vibrancy of the Downtown Village Business District, carefully planned growth in these areas can result in a charming, eclectic, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly, economic driver for Bridgton. A unifying code of development standards and strong incentivesfor existing and new business to participate could be part of the Plan's policies, the intentions for which are summarized next.

26. Inner Corridor Policies • Support an intentional mix of uses in order to encourage development that offers residential, commercial, recreational, and employment uses in close or reasonable proximity to one another. • Support the extension of water and sewer to areas designated as Inner Corridor Development Areas. Furthermore, lines should be sized for additional expansion for further private development of these services. • Inner corridor roadways are intended to have upgraded infrastructure such as, but not limited to, sidewalks and shade trees.

27. Inner Corridors New Residential Development 4. Is intended to be located at the backs of lots away from the highway and accessed by side streets andcould incorporate design characteristics including but not limited to: a. Mix of residential housing types patterned after the eclectic diversity and varied skyline found in the town's residential village areas. b. Residential development in the inner corridor is intended to be more dense than in the rural residential areas of the town. Townhouses, condominiums and apartment buildings could be directed here. c. Well-designed passive and active green space d. Pedestrian connectivity with sidewalks and trails e. The Town may examine opportunities to encourage, incentivize or require design improvements to non-conforming structures, sites, and parking lots.

28. Inner Corridors New Commercial Development 5. Is intended to be located to take best advantage of the corridor frontage and could incorporate design characteristics including but not limited to: a. Mix of commercial building types and eclectic design diversity patterned after the varied skyline found in Bridgton's downtown and surrounding neighborhoods b. High to medium density with shared entrance, parking and connected green space c. Well-designedpassive and active green space d. Pedestrian connectivity with sidewalks and trails e. The Town should examine opportunities to encourage, incentivize or require design improvements to non-conforming structures, sites, and parking lots.

29. Outer Corridors • This designation applies to the highway corridors along Routes 302 and 117,outside the growth areas, and as they extend to the Town's borders. These transitional areas share important characteristics that help define Bridgton to the traveler as well as to those of us who live here: a strong sense of the natural beauty of the area is found in the balance of village and countryside development patterns. These areas are the public face of Bridgton's rural charm.

30. The Outer Corridor characterizes the highway approaches into Bridgton from its borders with its neighboring towns and abutting the Inner Corridor Development Areas. These sections of Route 302 and Route 117 lend residents, visitors, and passers-through alike, an appealing vision of rock outcroppings, woods, and swamps, with a smattering of residences, businesses and side roads along the way.

31. Isolated and Sporadic Commercial & Residential Development

32. Outer Corridor Policies • Support a wide range of uses, at medium and low densities. • Support a balance of commercial development with open space. • Support the appeal of these transitional areas, encouraging the use of vegetated buffers along the corridor frontage, building setbacks commensurate with building scale, architectural design that reflects the town’s historical form, and side road access where applicable, to limit curb cuts.

33. Public Comments Include: • Historic structures/elements or design should be retained in some form • Town Highways & Arterials each have unique historic & existing characteristics which should be reflected in the land use ordinance –as noted in 2005 land use plan • Don’t want a confusing “mish mash” of random, or continuous suburbanization (ala Windham) • Limit curb-cuts (shared entrances) and densities/trips to “planned” areas to control traffic impacts and turn-movements to known locations • Lighting needs to project down, be limited, and shut down when business is closed – Dark Sky policies • Wilderness – Trees – Lake Views need to be preserved to retain town charm & value to residents & tourists alike • Excess outdoor storage needs to be orderly, and differentiated from displays advertising wares… see Hancock Lumber site design as an example • All existing businesses grandfathered regardless of designation or “compatibility”

34. Rural & Lake Areas of Bridgton November 15, 2017

35. Rural & Lakeside Neighborhoods • RN – Rural Neighborhood– low density and natural open space that occupies the majority of the land area. • LN- Lakeside Neighborhood – mostly established residential land areas surrounding Bridgton’s lakes, beyond Shoreland Zoning. There is a certain quality of life in these rural areas that is cherished by those who live there. The rural designation is intended to provide long term protection of rural resources, important natural features, large blocks of un-fragmented habitat and open space, and scenic lands from incompatible development that could threaten natural resource-based industries, working landscapes, or the character of Bridgton.

36. Rural & Conservation Planning Areas • Designated Conservation Planning areas protect and preserve environmentally sensitive areas and high value open spaces from residential, industrial and commercial encroachment • Throughout the Town, sensitive natural resources including floodplains, parks, historical buildings and sites, woodlands and prime wildlife habitat, much-loved views and vistas, prime agricultural lands, and natural recreational areas could be preserved to ensure the continuation of that which is our greatest asset as a Town.

37. Conservation Planning Policies • Conservation Areas occur throughout town as natural systems. Development could be supported at very low densities on private well and septic. Standards should encourage low-impact, eco-sensitive construction practices. • As a general policy, commercial development should be limited in these areas due to high traffic volume & trucks. Where development is appropriate, low impact engineering and architectural design practices should be incorporated into all projects • Aquifer Recharge Areas & Floodplains are already “zoned” & existing Shoreland Zoning provides the minimum state protections for other water bodies.

38. Land Use District Concepts & Boundaries • Do you agree with the fundamental principles, goals, development & preservation concepts that establish the land use districts? • What geographic areas & their proposed boundaries are of most concern & why? What would you like to see happen in these areas? • Other questions or concerns that the ordinance should address?

39. 1st Public Hearing December 5, 2017 @ 6:00pm