The task force comes as companies look to build both a data center and a biosolids processing plant in the city. Photo: Pixabay
By Renée Morin
The Sanford City Council this week started filling seats on the Industrial Standards Task Force, a group that will examine the city’s review and permitting standards for all industrial developments in the city.
This comes as the city has approved a 180-day moratorium for a proposed biosolids and sewage thermal processing plant and expects to hold a public hearing in July on a petition from the Sanford Clean Air and Water Coalition to extend the emergency moratorium on data centers from three months to 180 days.
Four residents – Alexander Clary, Don Jamison, Steven Benotti, and Joe Gorsun – will join city staff members, one member of the Planning Board, two city councilors and representatives from the Industrial Development Corporation and other industries on the new task force.
Clary, a member of the Sanford Clean Air and Water Coalition, said he looks forward to working with the group. “This task force will give us the ability to add much needed regulation to protect Sanford’s local environment, and to help guide the city’s future development responsibly around heavy industry, [which will allow us] to avoid the mistakes made with the mills in the past,” he said.
The group, which will also partner with entities such as the Sanford Water District and the Sanford Sewage District, will report to the council on any recommended standard changes by the end of the moratorium periods. Those appointed will remain on the task force until it is disbanded upon the completion of their work.
As outlined in the biosolids moratorium, the task force will review land use ordinances, zoning regulations, site plan review standards, and environmental protections. That would include:
- An independent assessment of potential air quality impacts, including emissions and public health evaluations;
- An assessment of traffic and transportation impacts from heavy truck activity;
- An evaluation of potential impacts to surface water and groundwater;
- A review of operational history and technological readiness of proposed thermal
- processing technologies;
- An assessment of impacts to property values, economic activity, and quality of life;
- An evaluation of municipal emergency response preparedness and capability;
- Monitoring and review of Maine Department of Environmental Protection and federal permitting processes
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, councilors approved amendments to the city’s marijuana ordinance to create a dispensary cultivation and manufacturing license. The text of one of the final amendments was modified slightly to increase clarity on what was and was not allowed under the ordinance. Chief Code Enforcement Officer Jamie Cole said that although city staff did not feel this was needed, the clarifying text was added so the city’s marijuana industry would feel heard.
This piece was produced through the training and support of Journalism New England’s Career Lab.
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