Sanford resident Jeff Kitchen addresses the City Council about problems with a neighboring property on Curtis Lake Drive. Photo: WSSR-TV
By Zendelle Bouchard
Citizen petitions update: At the City Council’s March 17 meeting, City Manager Steve Buck updated the council on two applications for citizen petitions. One petition seeks a citywide referendum on the recent council vote approving the Omnibus Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. A second petition, a citizen ordinance petition, would propose a temporary moratorium on municipal permits for large industrial developments with significant potential environmental impacts, including sludge and waste processing operations, large data centers, and other energy-intense industrial facilities, until the city establishes clear regulatory standards governing such uses. Per the City Charter, in order to go to a referendum vote, each petition would require the signatures of 5% of the city’s registered voters, to be submitted to the city clerk within 30 days of the issuance of the petitions. The applications for the petitions are currently being reviewed, so they have not been issued yet. The citizen committee behind the process has a goal of collecting 1,000 signatures, which would be more than the 5% required. There are currently 14,708 registered voters in Sanford/Springvale.
Problem properties: The council heard from Sanford resident Jeff Kitchen about chronic problems with a short-term rental property next door to him at 8 Curtis Lake Drive. The seven-bedroom, four-bath home is advertised on Airbnb and VRBO as well as the owner’s own website as suitable for up to 22 people. “It’s not a home, it’s a hotel,” he said and added that the police and codes departments have been responsive, but nothing has been done despite the property operating in violation of the city’s short-term housing ordinance, which requires that the owner live on the property. The owner of the home is a realty trust with a mailing address in Boston. Later in the meeting, City Manager Buck stated that the state had recently removed the residency requirement on short-term rentals, to which Mayor Becky Brink responded, “the state needs to mind their own business.” Kitchen said Airbnb and VRBO will remove the listing if the property violates town ordinances. Councilor Ayn Hanselmann said she has been fielding complaints about a Main Street home with excessive signage and flashing lights that is bothering residents and suggested the city’s Disorderly House ordinance might be used to spur action with both properties.
Splash pad: The council voted to accept a bid from BP Property Services/TB Earthworks of Hollis for construction of the new splash pad and associated walkways and landscaping at Carpentier Park. The bid of $118,217 was the lower of the two bids received. Half of the cost of the project is being paid through a Land Water Conservation Fund grant.
FOAA request: Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy read a letter by Deputy Police Chief Matt Gagné in response to the request for Sanford Police Department records under Maine’s Freedom of Access Act. Gagné reiterated Police Chief Eric Small’s recommendation that the American Civil Liberties Union, which was seeking the records, get a court order to force the SPD to release the information. During the public participation segment of the meeting, resident Alex Clary asked the council to forbid the SPD from particpating in ICE removal operations. He said the actions of federal immigration agents will not hold up to legal scrutiny and “there will be a cost for participating in them by municipalities…for actions that will be seen in retrospect as illegal and a violation of individuals’ rights.”
Easter Home Run Eggstravaganza: The council approved a road closure for Roberts Street during the Recreation Department’s annual Easter event at Goodall Park. The road will be closed from 9 am to noon on Saturday, April 4. For more information on this free family event, see the listing in our Events Calendar.
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