As much as Auburn’s Planning Board and mayor would like to wave a magic scepter over swaths of city property and deem them a new zone, it can’t be done that easily.
Many of these properties, such as in the Lake Street School area, have restrictions put in place by developers. Prudential Investment Company was one such developer.
The restrictions include limiting use to one family, no commercial use and setbacks of 20 feet.
Other deeds can have restrictions such as no subdivisions within 600 feet of the road.
People can check their deed at androscoggindeeds.com. They might be happily surprised to find that their house or their neighbor’s cannot become a 7-11 or a medical building, no matter how much the city desires it.
We should all check the deeds of properties about to be developed to make sure there are no restrictions.
Thank goodness developers of decades ago protected the city’s neighborhoods by having a better understanding of the importance of urban planning and aesthetics.
Pam Larouche, Auburn
Send questions/comments to the editors.
