Feb 17, 2025
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Side Street Cafe.
MOUNT DESERT—Manufactured housing, which by definition includes mobile homes is allowed “to be placed or erected on individual house lots where single-family dwellings are allowed,” reads an almost one-year-old amendment to Maine law which was signed by Governor Janet Mills in March of 2024 and is an effort to increase affordable housing opportunities in Maine.
This amendment was mentioned when the Town of Mount Desert’s Warrant Committee met on Tuesday, February 11, and Noel Musson of the Musson Group spoke about some proposed Land Use Ordinance (LUO) changes that may be on the warrant at this year’s town meeting.
According to Musson, one of the proposed changes is a repeal of the town’s current mobile home and trailer park ordinance. This ordinance was enacted in 1970 and is no longer fully compliant with state standards.
Repeal Of Mobile Home Park Ordinance
194KB ∙ PDF file
The second manufactured-home-related proposed LUO change would be amendments to the portions of the LUO that relate to manufactured homes and bring them into alignment with state standards.
There are proposed changes in section 6 “standards for uses, permits and approvals.”
There are also proposed changes in section 8 “definitions.”
Mobile Homes
182KB ∙ PDF file
Shoreland Commercial Districts
The LUO states that you may build a residential property in a shoreland commercial district if it is your primary residence. The LUO also states that the residence must meet the dimensional standards of the “adjacent residential district.”
In the proposed amendment, the word “adjacent” is being stricken and the words “neighboring shoreland” are being added. According to Musson, this is being done to avoid possible confusion so that potential residence owners don’t make the mistake of using an adjacent zone that is not a shoreland residential district. As in, one can not use the dimensional standards of an inland but adjacent zone that is residential but not shoreland residential.
SECTION 3 LAND USE DISTRICTS
Shoreland Commercial District
126KB ∙ PDF file
Certificates of Occupancy
Musson explained that this proposed amendment is a clarification for certificates of occupancy, clarifying that certificates of occupancy are only required for structures that were permitted after March 3, 1998.
SECTION 7 CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Certificates Of Occupancy
128KB ∙ PDF file
Solar Energy Systems
This proposed amendment would add standards for solar energy producing systems to the LUO. The proposed amendments include definitions for different sizes of systems.
- Small solar energy system (roof mounted or ground mounted) – less than 15,000 sf of total airspace.
- Medium solar energy system (roof mounted or ground mounted) – greater than 15,000 sf of total airspace but less than 87,120 sf of total airspace.
- Large solar energy system – greater than 87,120 sf of total airspace.
Large solar systems (87,120 sf is equal to two acres) are not permitted in any land use district in the Town of Mount Desert.
Solar Energy Systems
320KB ∙ PDF file
Building Code Repeal
The town’s building code, which was last modified in May 2012, no longer meets state standards. Applicable standards were added to the town’s LUO in May 2024 and the proposed repeal will get rid of the now outdated building code ordinance.
According to Code Enforcement Officer Kim Keene, the state created statewide building codes in 2018 and any towns that had codes that did not meet the standards had to be repealed. Towns under a population of 4,000 have the option of adopting the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code but Mount Desert has not adopted it.
Building Code Repeal
182KB ∙ PDF file
Other Business
Keene said that someone has been hired to assist the code enforcement office and finance department. The code enforcement office will pay 25% of the position’s payroll.
Keene also said that she will be hiring a deputy code enforcement officer. She will be asking the selectboard to appoint someone who she has in mind to the deputy CEO position at the selectboard’s March 3 meeting. Someone asked who this person is and Keene responded that she could not say but they are a non-practicing attorney who is a Maine native and lives in Bar Harbor.
During the meeting, it was mentioned that the town’s comprehensive planning process is beginning. Meetings are open to the public and occur the first Thursday of every month. The next meeting is March 6 and a Zoom link will be established.
The next meeting of the Mount Desert Warrant Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Bar Harbor Story is a mostly self-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you for being here with us and caring about our community, too!
Thanks for reading Bar Harbor Story ! This post is public so feel free to share it.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.
Thank you for supporting us!
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyDiscover more from Bar Harbor Story
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.