CHAPTER VII: ECONOMY
STATE GOAL: To promote an economic climate that increases job opportunities and overall economic well being.
TOWN GOAL 1: Recognize the economic impact on the town from seasonal visitors.
Policy 1: Recognize the importance of maintaining Kennebunkport’s scenic beauty and architectural heritage for the enjoyment of both residents and visitors.
Strategy 1: Support Land Use Ordinance provisions and appointed Town Committees which encourage the preservation of scenic areas and architectural integrity of Kennebunkport.
Strategy 2: Place proper signage to designate specific points of interest. Include welcoming signs at Kennebunkport borders.
Strategy 3: All signs shall compliment the Town’s architectural heritage and be in accordance with the Land Use Ordinance.
Strategy 4: Support the needs of the business community to attract tourists without infringing on the quality of life of the residents.
Strategy 5: Investigate sites for additional municipal or privately owned satellite parking lots: consider locations in either Kennebunkport or nearby towns.
Policy 2: Recognize the important contributions toward stabilization of our taxes by non-resident taxpayers.
Strategy 1: Encourage involvement by non-permanent residents in community forums and other venues.
TOWN GOAL 2: Recognize the existence and desirability of a diverse work force and promote the ability of residents to develop and maintain businesses within the area.
Policy 1: Recognize the economic importance of developing and maintaining local jobs for residents of all ages and backgrounds.
Strategy 1: Review and refine the permitted uses as listed in 7.6.A LUO to ensure that it is comprehensive enough to include newer categories of home occupations such as computer related businesses and professional uses etc.
Strategy 2: Review and clarify what is meant by “customary” in the LUO. (7.6.A.1 “provided that it is customarily carried on in a dwelling”)
Strategy 3: Review LUO 7.6.B (All home occupations shall conform to the following conditions”) to determine if conditions to which they must conform need any modifications.
Strategy 4: Retain conditions in LUO 7.6. B to ensure protection for abutters and residential neighborhoods from the adverse effects of noise, traffic, and parking, etc.
GOAL 3: Protect residential uses and values from adverse impacts of commercial uses.
Policy 1: Minimize the impacts that tourist related traffic has on the village area and residential neighborhoods.
Strategy 1: Develop regulations for tour bus operators on parking, unloading/loading and travel and provide effective communication to operators and enforcement personnel.
Strategy 2: With the intention of improving traffic flow, cooperate with private transportation companies servicing the area, including connections with inter-community rail and bus terminals along Route 1 so as to connect with adjacent towns.
Policy 2: Protect property values from the adverse impacts of commercial uses.
Strategy 1: Before implementing any change in boundaries which increase the size of an existing zone where commercial uses predominate, or with the addition of any new commercial zone, the town should require an evaluation by an unbiased, outside expert on the impact of such change; the evaluation study should include, but not be limited to, the effect on taxes, schools, capacity of the infrastructure, property values, and similar issues which impact on residential and/or commercial interests.
Strategy 2: In developing regulations for new uses which influence vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic flow, the town should give serious consideration to possible effects on adjacent commercial and/or residential neighborhoods.
TOWN GOAL 4: Recognize the importance of cultural and recreational venues in serving the community and attracting visitors.
Policy 1: Review the possibility of attracting more cultural and recreational venues.
Strategy 1: Work with established, culturally oriented organizations to maintain and support local events while investigating the possibilities of additional events.
TOWN GOAL 5: Find ways to increase job opportunities locally
Policy 1: Encourage year round, small scale, low traffic businesses that meet the needs of the community to locate in Kennebunkport.
Strategy 1: When reviewing potential development fully consider the following: traffic flow, proximity to necessary infrastructure, environmental impact, and appropriate buffering for abutting districts and/or landowners.
Strategy 2: Clearly define the restrictions on businesses allowed in an area so that they reflect the scale and character of the community, as well as, meet the needs of the residents.
Strategy 3: Amend the LUO, as needed, to allow for the establishment of a business in appropriate areas of town, keeping in mind the policy and strategies outlined above.
Strategy 4: Monitor and analyze available data regarding trends in occupations
TOWN GOAL 6: Allow for multiple uses in the Dock Square Zone and other appropriate areas.
Policy 1: Allow residential uses and businesses within the same buildings.
Strategy 1: Modify the LUO to allow for multiple use buildings where appropriate.
TOWN GOAL 7: Broaden the tax base and decrease the Town’s dependence on residential property taxes.
Policy 1: Study all tax proposals put forth by the State, Maine Municipal Association, and private referendum.
Strategy 1: Support those proposals that benefit the residents of the town.
Strategy 2: Encourage our County, State, and National Representatives to seek measures to reduce the local real estate property tax burden.
Strategy 3: Investigate new sources of revenue for the Town i.e.: additional or increased fees, promoting legislation to levy a local option sales tax, and increase State revenue sharing.
Policy 2: Review and recommend any changes needed in the LUO to provide for small scale Professional Offices in all zones.
Strategy 1: Establish performance standards for small scale Professional Offices.
TOWN GOAL 8: Recognize that Kennebunkport will, in all probability, continue to become an increasingly residential town and develop methods to identify and address the resulting issues.
Policy 1: Learn how similar communities have resolved such problems.
Strategy 1: Initiate studies to determine the effects on several factors including but not limited to:
the effect on value of homes now in existence
Explanation: this is the largest single local economic interest and asset of the vast majority of residents.
attempting to maintain an economically diverse community
Explanation: in view of escalating property values and taxes.
Anticipate needs of the residents in an increasingly residential town.
Evaluation of the effects and needs of an increasing older and retired population.
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