MDI Tomorrow

Community Design and Land Use Committee Meeting Notes

May 6, 2002

Attending: Bill Cohen (BH), Bob Collins (BH), Dick Cough (BH), Jane Disney (BH), Ellen Dohmen (BH), Aaron Heyerdahl (BH), Pat Holder (Somesville), Ted Koffman (BH), Marla Major (Mt.D), Caroline Pryor (MtD), Sydney Rockefeller (Seal Hbr.), Julia Schloss (BH), Patty Tierney (Tremont), Cuff Train (SWH), Carol Williams (SWH)Ý

Next meeting of CD & LU group is Thursday, May 30, 8:00 - 9:30 in the Friends of Acadia downstairs conference room, in the Swan Building, 43 Cottage St., Bar Harbor.

Next MDI Tomorrow (full group) meeting is Tuesday, June 4, 3 - 5, Somesville Firehouse.

Joint Meeting of CD & LU group, Affordable Housing group, and local developers is Thursday, June 20, in the community room of Malvern Belmont at 80 Mount Desert Street, Bar Hrbor.

Ted Koffman reviewed this subcommitteeís discussions, and the issues identified to-date (summarized in the 4/11/02 Worksheet Progress Report).

The group identified indicators that will help confirm perceptions (it seems MDI has fewer year-round businesses, can we quantify), and help track progress in the issues over time.

NOTE:Ý We need to inform the public that just because land is not on the market today, doesnít mean it wonít be tomorrow, and the object is to guide the development of that land to meet the best interests of the communities.Ý

IMPLEMENTING

To create a climate that will help accomplish goals, need to involve a broad base of residents in the process.Ý

… Charrettes (by town , community, or island) for town officials, board/council members, real estate developers/agents, architects, environmental/conservation staff

Æ make a commitment to walk away after one or more days with a product æ e.g. a plan or model ordinance.

Æ keep the size small, no more than 15 - 18 participants at a time

Æ use as a model æ bring results from each charrette to November conference for consideration as an islandwide concept

… Develop a working committee of planners, architects, landscape architects, etc. as part of MDI Tomorrow, which would serve as an advisory group

Æ Plannersí Lunch (in June) a start

… Plan a regional meeting with State Planning Office to discuss/review MDI-Ellsworth comprehensive plans

Æ identify whatís good, what works

Æ develop/retain ordinances consistent with plans

… Identify the stakeholders

Ted handed out a brochure from the Vermont Forum on Sprawl and the Orton Institute, as a possible model for meeting/forum addressing sprawl on MDI and in the region.Ý

The Earth Charter, an international initiative to promote ìvalues and principles for a sustainable future,î was presented as a possible model for MDI.

… Principles include: Respect and Care for the Community of Life; Ecological Integrity; Social and Economic Justice; and Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace.Ý

… Charter can serve as an educational tool, catalyst for change, means for ethical development, soft law tool

Jane Disney will report on the May Earth Charter conference at the next meeting.ÝÝ More information can be found on the Earth Charter website at www.earthcharter.org/.Ý

Next meeting we will concentrate on identifying the stakeholders.Ý Everyone is encouraged to bring a new face to the next meeting.