PARIS — Changes to the town’s subdivision ordinance that shorten the application process for developers were endorsed by selectmen at a special meeting Monday.
If approved by voters, the changes may help the town’s chances of being certified as a “business-friendly community” by the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development.
Glen Holmes, director of the Western Maine Economic Development Council, presented the changes.
Holmes has been helping the town apply for the DECD program and drafted the ordinance amendments.
The only changes requested are to shorten the time — from 30 to 15 days — given to the Planning Board to notify a developer if completed preliminary and final applications have been received, and if the applications have been approved or require additional information.
According to Holmes, the timelines in the current ordinance could give the Planning Board up to eight months to approve a final application, far too long for a prospective developer trying to plan a construction season.
The lengthy timelines would jeopardize its “business-friendly” application, Homles told selectmen.
According to the DECD, if approved for “business-friendly” status, communities receive recognition on the DECD website, become a key part of Maine’s business attraction strategy, are presented an award by the governor and receive two Business Friendly Community signs.
Eighteen communities have been certified since the program started in 2010.
Holmes said the Planning Board was in full support of the amendments and said that with the selectmen’s endorsement in hand, he could begin putting together the town’s DECD application.
The upcoming year is looking positive in terms of economic development in Oxford Hills, Holmes said. Paris can encourage business growth by offering municipal help and assistance to businesses that might consider relocating here, he told selectmen.
“It’s about an attitude a lot more than anything else,” he said.
“It’s about really opening your arms and saying ‘come on in, let’s see what we can do to help you get this done.'”
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