Midcoast town extends pause on large retail developments

Nearly a year after it was put in place, the Lincolnville Select Board on Monday night approved another extension of the moratorium on new commercial developments throughout the town.
That means the temporary ban will last for another 180 days, allowing local officials more time to put rules in place that would aim to prevent any unwanted environmental impacts from new retail or other non-residential developments.
Lincolnville voters first approved the moratorium last December, coming out in large numbers to unanimously support it after a developer had proposed building a large retail store in town. It was extended earlier this year, and again on Monday night.
While the moratorium has been in place, a committee has been working to draft a land-use ordinance with measures meant to protect waterways, minimize visual impacts and prevent traffic congestion, among other things.
The Select Board made brief remarks on the extension before passing it on Monday. No members of the public commented on it.
“While progress is being made, the work of the land-use committee as set forth in the charge is not complete, but is being worked on,” said Select Board Chair Ladleah Dunn. “Therefore, we feel it is imperative and important to continue these efforts and therefore perpetuate the moratorium ordinance.”
“Reasonable progress is being made to alleviate the problems,” said another Select Board member, Stephen Hand.