This sheet provides notification of standards required by the Waterboro Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. By signing this form, the applicant acknowledges understanding of the standards and agrees to comply with them and to notify all others associated with the proposed project of these restrictions. Violation of any of these standards will require the contractor(s) and/or landowner(s) to fully restore any site conditions not in compliance to their pre-construction condition and could possibly include violation fines or legal action.
NOTE: This form summarizes key Ordinance provisions. Other restrictions and Maine DEP requirements may also apply. Approval of a DEP permit under the Natural Resources Protection Act does not supersede these standards that in some cases are more restrictive. See section 7 of the Zoning Ordinance for information about which activities require a local permit from the code enforcement office. It is suggested that you contact the code enforcement office prior to doing anything within the shoreland zone. Shoreland zone regulations apply to all land areas within 250 feet of the normal
high-water line of any great pond, river or the upland edge of a freshwater wetland, and within 100 feet of the normal high-water line of a stream.
The following standards apply within the buffer area (within l00 feet of the normal high water mark of all lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. (See the official Shoreland Zoning Map for exact boundaries.)
l Structures are not allowed within the buffer area. This prohibition includes storage buildings, boathouses, patios, decks, tents and any portion of a dock extending above the normal high water line.
l One winding footpath of no more than six feet in width is allowed for each lot or for each 200 feet of shoreline frontage. Footpaths must be winding in order to provide opportunities for runoff to disperse into the buffer. They cannot be constructed so as to create a view corridor.
l In the off-season, docks should be stacked on the footpath to avoid damage to buffer vegetation.
Fill cannot be brought into the buffer except for path construction or to re-vegetate bare ground as part of an approved re-vegetation plan.
l Trees can be limbed on the lower one third of the tree.
l Openings or view corridors in existence prior to January 1, 1989 can be maintained but not enlarged.
l No disturbance of the ground cover (including the duff and leaf layer) or vegetation shall be caused within the buffer, or between the lake and a grandfathered or new structure. Equipment movement and excavation disturbance must be carefully controlled to avoid any impact on the buffer. For example, it is not legal to locate a foundation at the buffer limit if that placement will cause any disturbance within the buffer. The placement of silt fence at the buffer limit is intended to prevent this problem and satisfy state and local laws.
l Openings that have "closed" with growth of woody vegetation cannot be "re-opened".
l Grandfathered buildings within the buffer may be expanded if the expansions are no closer to the water body than the original structure. Such expansions of floor area and/or volume are limited to 30% of the floor area and volume in existence as of January 1, 1989.
l Planning Board review is required to obtain a permit to expand an existing structure that is within 100 feet of the waterbody.
l Before any construction begins, pre-construction photos should be taken and a copy should be provided to the code enforcement office to be kept in the building file. Silt fence must be properly installed at the upland extent of the buffer area below any construction.
l Clearing of vegetation within the strip of land 75 feet inland from the normal high-water line in a shoreland area zoned for resource protection abutting a pond is not allowed. Vegetation under three feet in height can not be removed or cut. Timber harvesting within 75 feet of a pond or stream is not allowed.
l Clearing for development from 75-250 can be done selectively but no more than 40% of the total volume of trees four inches or more in diameter measured at 4 ½ feet above the ground can be removed on any lot within a ten year period.
Please contact the Code Enforcement Office at 247-5346 with any questions you may have about the shoreland zoning regulations. It is our philosophy to assist you to accomplish what you would like to do with your property within the guidelines of the shoreland zoning regulations and avoid all shoreland zoning violations and /or fines.
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