MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA

PLANNING BOARD HELD JUNE 25, 2025

The meeting convened at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were Waine Whittier, Alan Williams, Creston Gaither, and Ed Lawless. 

Recently issued permits were briefly reviewed.

The proposed Solar Energy Systems ordinance was reviewed and discussed in depth page by page. Waine will prepare a draft of the ordinance amended to show tonight’s edits and will forward it to the rest of the Board.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

Creston Gaither, secretary

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA
PLANNING BOARD HELD MAY 28, 2025

The meeting convened at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were
Creston Gaither, Ed Lawless, and Tim Bickford. Glenice McKechnie was present
briefly. Creston was elected Acting Chairman in Waine Whittier’s absence.
Glenice was given a Notification of Construction permit for a deck.
The proposed solar installation ordinance was briefly discussed.
The Board voted 3 – 0 to table the discussion of the ordinance until June.
Tim outlined the results of the Tuesday May 27 meeting regarding culverts.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.

Creston Gaither, secretary

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA

PLANNING BOARD HELD APRIL 23, 2025

At 6:25 PM regular members Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither, Tim Bickford, and Ed Lawless, along with alternate member Steve Trehu, met with Andy and Debby Coulombe on their Day Road property shown on tax map 3 as lot 32-K, to discuss their proposal to add a 4’ x 16’ deck on the easterly side of the existing cabin and to move an existing shed onto the southerly side of the existing clearing on the easterly side of Day Road, and to remove an existing outhouse.

These members then met at the Town House at 7:00 PM for the Board’s regular meeting. Steve was appointed a voting member in Alan Williams’ absence. Minutes of the March 26 meeting were read and accepted.

The Coulombes’ proposal was discussed. They provided a sketch based on their site evaluator’s drawing. It appears that the proposed expansion, including the deck, will result in 746 square feet, this being less than the 1000 sf allowed by the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. The Board agreed that the project should be subject to these CONDITIONS:

               (a). any contractor for the project must be certified for work in Maine’s Shoreland Zones.

               (b). nothing can be placed closer than 25 feet from the pond at high water mark.

               (c).   Nothing is to be excavated except as required for septic tank replacement.

The Board then concluded that, based on its on-site observations and the Coulombes’ verbal representations, and subject to a review of the pertinent flood hazard map, this project:

(1) Will maintain safe and healthful conditions;

(2) Will not result in water pollution, erosion, or sedimentation to surface waters;

(3) Will adequately provide for the disposal of all wastewater;

(4) Will not have an adverse impact on spawning grounds, fish, aquatic life, bird or other wildlife habitat;

(5) Will conserve shore cover and visual, as well as actual, points of access to inland waters;

(6) Will protect archaeological and historic resources as designated in the comprehensive plan;

(7) Will avoid problems associated with floodplain development and use; and

(8) is in conformance with the provisions of Vienna’s Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, Section 15, Land Use Standards.

The Board  then voted 5 – 0 to authorize Creston to issue a permit for this project.

The Mercer Solar Energy Systems Ordinance of 2023 as Amended March 2025 was reviewed and discussed. Changes which would make it suitable for Vienna were discussed. After about an hour it was agreed that a solar energy systems ordinance for Vienna could not be made ready in time for the Board’s May meeting as originally planned. The Board will continue work on an ordinance at future meetings. We may need the 180-day extension allowed in the recently enacted moratorium.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.

          Creston Gaither, secretary