UMaine hopes to compost at Rogers Farm

 January 2, 2007

The Old Town Planning Board will hold a public hearing to discuss whether to change Old Town’s zoning ordinance to allow special composting privileges for the University of Maine. Old Town code enforcement officer Charlie Henonien said that the University of Maine wants to bring food waste to Rogers Farm in order to composte it, but that would mean a zoning change in the area.

“The University has been advised by its consultant Civil Engineering Services to submit a written proposal for a special exception to the current zoning of the Rogers Farm area,” Henonein said. “But if you change the zoning (for them), you have to change it everywhere, for everyone in the zone.”

Henonein added that it was a situation that had to be assessed very carefully, with an eye toward the future.

“This might seem like a small amount right now,” he said. “But you have to look at changes that might occur down the road.”

Following next week’s public hearing, the Old Town Planning Board will vote whether or not to recommend a change in zoning to the City Council. The City Council will then hold its own public hearing prior to voting on the proposed change.

The public hearing on re-zoning will take place on Jan. 9, at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Town Public Library.