TOWN OF ROCKPORT PETITIONS FOR TOWN MEETING VOTE REGARDING SIZE OF PROPOSED SMITH HOTEL AND PARKING REQUIREMENTS

Thank you for taking the time to show support on this important issue. We are asking for your support on two petitions currently circulating to Rockport-registered voters. This Change.org petition is intended for any Midcoast residents and stakeholders who are not registered to vote in Rockport, but would like to show symbolic support for this effort. Your signature of this Change.org petition indicates your support of both issues described below.  This online petition will be submitted to the Rockport Board of Selectmen, along with the official hard copy petitions. A successful official petition would place the following issues on a secret ballot for a vote in Spring or Summer of 2020:

1) Reduce the number of rooms for Inns/Hotels zoned in downtown Rockport to 20 rooms per inn (no more than 40 rooms total).

2) Require off-street parking for businesses zoned in Rockport to be located on the same lot as the principal building. No off-site or shared parking, or waiver of parking requirements, shall be approved unless it is supported by an independent traffic study prepared by a qualified professional, hired by the reviewing authority and paid for by the applicant, which establishes that the parking facility is adequate for the proposed use and any shared use(s), will not cause undue burdens on traffic or parking in the vicinity, and will not cause safety concerns.

The full text of both petitions is below for your review. Thank you!

1) TOWN OF ROCKPORT PETITION FOR TOWN MEETING VOTE - LIMITING NUMBER OF ROOMS IN HOTELS IN ROCKPORT 

30-A M.R.S.A. § 2522 
This petition must be signed by ___ registered voters of the Town of Rockport. 

To the Municipal Officers of the Town of Rockport, Maine:

We, the undersigned residents of the Town of Rockport, Maine, qualified to vote in all town affairs, hereby request that you place the following article before the voters for the consideration at a secret ballot election held pursuant to 30-A M.R.S. § 2528:

“Shall the following amendment to the Town of Rockport Land Use Ordinance, Section 917(G) be enacted:

9. No more than 40 (forty) rooms, in the aggregate, shall be permitted at Inns/Hotels in the 913 zoning district.  No single inn or hotel, nor any combination of such uses located on the same lot, shall have more than 20 guest rooms.

 Notwithstanding 1 M.R.S. § 302, this amendment shall apply to all hotels and inns that have not received Planning Board approval and all required building permits as of March 1, 2020.” 

2) TOWN OF ROCKPORT PETITION FOR TOWN MEETING VOTE - OFF-STREET/REMOTE PARKING REVIEW IN ROCKPORT 

30-A M.R.S.A. § 2528(5)
This petition must be signed by ___ registered voters of the Town of Rockport.

To the Municipal Officers of the Town of Rockport, Maine:

We, the undersigned residents of the Town of Rockport, Maine, qualified to vote in all town affairs, hereby request that you place the following article before the voters for the consideration at a secret ballot election held pursuant to 30-A M.R.S. § 2528: 

“Shall the following amendment to the Town of Rockport Land Use Ordinance, Section 803.1(3) be enacted: 

Location of Off-Street Parking: Required off-street parking in all districts shall be located on the same lot as the principal building or use, except that where off- street parking cannot be provided on the same lot, the Planning Board Board of Appeals may permit such off-street parking to be located a reasonable distance from the principal building or use, measured along the line of public access. If serving a business or industrial use, such parking area shall be in a business or industrial district. Such parking areas shall be held under the same ownership or lease. The Planning Board Board of Appeals may approve the joint use of a parking facility by 2 or more principal buildings or uses where it is clearly demonstrated that the parking facility will substantially meet the intent of the requirements by reasons of variation in the time of use by patrons or employees among such establishments. No off-site or shared parking, or waiver of parking requirements, shall be approved unless it is supported by an independent traffic study prepared by a qualified professional, hired by the reviewing authority and paid for by the applicant, which establishes that the parking facility is adequate for the proposed use and any shared use(s), will not cause undue burdens on traffic or parking in the vicinity, and will not cause safety concerns.

Notwithstanding 1 M.R.S. § 302, this amendment shall apply to all land uses and all off-site parking facilities that have not received final approval as of 45 days prior to enactment of this amendment.”