Chapter 14: Future Land Use
The Future Land Use Plan is integral to the implementation of the goals, policies and strategies outlined in the other chapters of the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan reflects the following guiding principles with respect to the general patern of development.
- Downtown Ogunquit should continue as a vibrant, densely developed, pedestrian oriented, mixed-use village like community.
- The areas adjacent to the downtown area and located along Route 1 and Shore Road should continue as mixed-use areas with a predominantly pedestrian orientation. Multifamily dwellings should be encouraged here.
- The older residential areas, mainly east of Route 1 and along Shore Road, should be maintained as residential areas.
- The outer portions of the Route 1 corridor should continue to serve as locations for hotels and motels to serve the town’s visitors.
- The area west of Route 1 extending to the Maine Turnpike should continue to be developed with housing that is, to the extent feasible, served by public water and sewer.
- The area west of the Turnpike should continue to remain as farmland and otherwise be lightly developed with housing accompanied by significant open space. Further subdivisions should be restricted.
In addition, the plan atempts to address challenges such as:
- Encouraging development in areas served by public infrastructure.
- Sustainable economic development—including the provision of workforce, affordable and senior housing.
- Improving stormwater quality.
- Protecting our natural, water, and marine resources.
- Protecting open space, wildlife corridors, and farmlands.
The future land use plan embodies the concept that the Town should identify and designate growth areas and rural areas. Growth areas include areas of Town that can accommodate development served by public water and sewer. Rural areas include areas with significant natural resources, open space and farmland and/or areas not served by public water and sewer. Implementing the Future Land Use Plan will be the responsibility of the Planning Board and the Code Enforcement Officer.
The Town has rebuilt all Town bathroom facilities, located at the beaches, Perkins Cove, and downtown. The Town is now re- developing the site of the former Ogunquit Village School as a Town Hall and Police Station.
Ogunquit’s spending has typically focused on maintenance items, such as roads, sidewalks, and vehicles for Town departments. Recently, spending has focused on rebuilding Town buildings. For example, the Town has rebuilt all Town bathroom
facilities, located at the beaches, Perkins Cove, and downtown. The Town is now re-developing the site of the former Ogunquit Village School as a Town Hall and Police Station, followed by renovating the existing community center, as detailed in the Public Facilities section. Now, increased focus is shifting towards monitoring stormwater management to reduce contamination throughout the Town watersheds. Also,
Ogunquit has started looking at climate change projects, such as replacing streetlights with LED fixtures, purchasing an electric car for the Code Enforcement Officer as a pilot, and installing EV chargers at one Town parking lot as another pilot. This Comprehensive Plan seeks to focus future spending on climate change issues—to preserve our unique and popular natural resources–and on increasing affordable and senior housing, both to help provide workforce housing and to provide housing for anticipated population growth. As noted in the Housing Chapter, Maine census estimates that Ogunquit will need between 193 and 343 housing units by 2040.
Because the Town is heavily developed in residential zoning districts, and residents are striving to preserve undeveloped land protecting the fragile watersheds and estuary, most of that development will occur in the growth zones defined in the table below. Maine statutes allowing accessory dwelling units and tiny homes may help. Additionally, Ogunquit recently approved a multi-unit senior living facility on Route 1, which will provide almost 40 units when complete, with 20% designated as affordable. The growth areas will see the most expansion, both residential and commercial.
Growth Areas
| District | Relationship to vision | Infrastructure Available | Why Suited for Growth | Compatibility to Current Uses | Anticipated Capital Investments |
| Single Family Residential (to be changed to “Residential.” | Between Shore Road and the Marginal Way, heavily developed with residential properties, historically restricted to single- family dwellings. | Town roads, power via overhead lines, KKWWD water, and OSD sewer. | Limited growth potential, as already heavily developed. Some opportunities to convert some single-family dwellings to multifamily or to add ADUs. | Change the OZO to allow multi- family homes, as well as Tiny Homes and ADUs or tiny homes. | May need to increase water and sewer capacities as well as road capacity. |
| Residential | West of Route 1 and between Route 1 and Shore Road. Heavily developed with residential properties | Town Roads, power via overhead lines. Some KKWWD water service, some OSD Sewer | Limited growth potential as heavily developed; some undeveloped properties still remain. | Change the OZO to allow future multifamily opportunities or to add ADUs | Consider extending KKWWD water and OSD sewer lines |
| Downtown Business | Downtown Ogunquit, heavily developed with mostly commercial properties. | Town roads, power via overhead lines, KKWWD water, and OSD sewer | Heavily developed with established businesses, but business ownership constantly changing. | Same. A strategy suggests allowing contract zones for senior and affordable housing within this district | May need to increase water and sewer capacities |
| General Business 1 | Along Route 1, north and south of Downtown, heavily developed with mostly commercial properties | Town roads, power via overhead lines, KKWWD water, and OSD sewer | Heavily developed with established businesses and homes | Same. A strategy suggests splitting this district between DBD and GBD-2, A strategy suggests allowing contract zones for senior and affordable housing within this district | May need to increase water and sewer capacities |
| General Business 2 | Along Route 1, north and south of GB1. | Town roads, power via overhead lines, | Heavily developed with established | Same. A strategy suggests allowing contract | May need to increase water |
| Heavily developed, with a mostly commercial properties. | KKWWD water, and OSD sewer | businesses and homes | zones for senior and affordable housing within this district | and sewer capacities | |
| Limited Business | Along Shore Road, with a mix of residential and commercial properties | Town roads, power via overhead lines, KKWWD water, and OSD sewer | Heavily developed with established businesses and homes | Same. A strategy suggests creating a municipal zone for Town owned land |
Following is a map of the Growth Areas in Ogunquit, highlighted in green. These are existing business districts and residential zones.
Critical Districts--Shoreland and Rural Areas
| District | Relationship to vision | Opportunities/ Constraints | Proposed Land Uses | Compatibility to Current Uses | Anticipated Capital Investments |
| Farm | To maintain the area west of Route 95 as a rural zone, with open space and undeveloped forest areas. | The only farm in town. Much of the area is developed or protected. | Farming, protected areas, and limited development. | Compatible | Capital investments to protect open space and woodlands. |
| Shoreland Limited Residential | Areas adjacent to protected areas with current residential development. | Much of this zone is developed, with shoreland restrictions. | Continue as limited residential uses. | Compatible | Possible upgrades to storm drain system. |
| Shoreland Limited Commercial | Areas adjacent to protected areas with current commercial and residential development.t | Mostly along the coast and Josias River. Already heavily developed with shoreland restrictions. | Continue for limited commercial uses. | Compatible | Possible updates to storm drain system. |
| Shoreland General Development 1- Ogunquit Beach | The currently developed area at Ogunquit Beach. | Heavily developed, on the dune area at the mouth of the Ogunquit River. | Limited development due to proximity to beach and dunes, with exposure to sea level rise. | Compatible | Capital investments to improve stormwater management, sea wall and parking lot maintenance. |
| Shoreland General Development 2- Perkins Cove | The currently developed area at Perkins Cove. | Heavily developed, at the mouth of the Josias River. | Maintain working waterfront, with homes and tourist atractions. | Compatible | Capital investments to replace footbridge, dredge, and repair sea wall. |
| Shoreland General Development 3 | The currently developed area around the Ogunquit Playhouse. | Limited to Playhouse use and development. | Further development of the Ogunquit Playhouse facilities. | Compatible | No Town investment. |
| Rural Residential 1 | Land between Route 95 and Route 1, excepting part of the more heavily developed | Some Town roads, power can be available. Litle access to KKWWD water or OSD Sewer. | Mostly undeveloped, with some unprotected wetlands. Many properties are | Compatible | Possible road upgrades if sewer and water services are extended. |
| Residential zone. Intended to be lightly developed. Much of this zone is undeveloped. | landlocked with limited access. | ||||
| Rural Residential 2 | Two small districts between RR1 and the Ogunquit River. Mostly residential development. | Town roads, power available via overhead lines. Some water via KKWWD,, some OSD Sewer. | Mostly developed with residences. | Compatible | Possible road upgrades if sewer and water services are extended. |
| Stream Protection | All areas within 75’ of the high- water line of a stream, not previously protected elsewhere. | Defined by local streams. | Continue to restrict future development in the district. | Compatible | Possible upgrades to storm drain system. |
| Resource Protection | Areas containing or adjacent to shoreland, including saltmarshes, freshwater or coastal wetlands, and significant wildlife habitats. | Defined by waterfront and wetlands. | Continue to restrict future development in the district. | Compatible | Possible upgrades to storm drain system. |
The following map illustrates the Ogunquit River, Josiah River, Wetlands throughout the town, and the waterfront, protected within the Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance.
The following map shows the Farm District, with the only working farm in Ogunquit.
Future Land Use
Goals, Policies and Strategies
Goal
- To encourage thoughtful growth and development while protecting and preserving the charm and natural resources Ogunquit cherishes.
Policies:
- Tocoordinate the community’s land use strategies with other local and regional land use planning efforts.
- Toprotect critical rural and waterfront areas from the impacts of
- Toincorporate policies and strategies from all Comprehensive Plan chapters into the Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance.
- Tosupport the level of financial commitment necessary to provide needed infrastructure in growth
- Toensure that permitting procedures are in keeping with the Comprehensive Plan, especially in growth
- Toensure that Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance allows appropriate development through designated growth areas.
- Toencourage affordable workforce housing within the
- Toprotect natural resources from overuse and
- Toencourage visitors and part-time residents to enjoy the Town, while preserving Ogunquit’s sense of
- Encouragea more climate friendly
Strategies:
- Priority: 1-5 with 1 being the highest priority.
| Description | Priority | Responsibility |
| Change OZO to provide stricter regulations regarding construction storm water runoff, especially prohibit silt fence use. | 1 | Planning Board |
| Add enforcement mechanisms to OZO 225-8.14 C. (4) (Wastewater Pollution) for failure to report and remedy. | 2 | CEO |
| Reduce allowable impervious surface coverage percentage in all Shoreland zones. | 3 | Planning Board |
| Expand Shoreland Zones to include more wetlands. | 4 | Planning Board |
| Revise OZO 240-10.5 A. (1) (Storm Drainage Design Standards) to accommodate a 50-to-100-year storm. | 5 | Planning Board |
| Update OZO to reflect changes to Single Family Zones, reflecting Tiny Home and ADU provisions. | Planning Board | |
| Revise road construction requirements to be more environmentally friendly. | Planning Board | |
| Research and propose incentives for conserving open space or wooded coverage on applicable projects. | Planning Board | |
| Create Municipal Zone and regulations for town owned properties. | Planning Board | |
| Review tightening requirements in OZO 225-3.3.H (Additional Requirements in Shoreland Zones). | Planning Board | |
| Define Erosion Control Plan in definitions in OZO and Subdivision ordinance. | Planning Board | |
| Add definition of stormwater management to OZO and reference to Subdivision ordinance. | Planning Board | |
| Add a stormwater management reporting requirement for construction sites to OZO and Subdivision Ordinance. | CEO | |
| Add requirements for pre- and post-construction stormwater runoff inspection to subdivision Ordinance. | CEO | |
| Require regular reviews of the impact of growth on Town infrastructure and natural resources. Track new development in the community by type and location. Consider developing impact fee ordinance. | Town Manager | |
| Tighten the OZO language regarding formula restaurants to increase enforceability for these uses. | Planning Board | |
| Consult Town Atorney to review the Town’s ability to prohibit formula hotel chains and retail stores in OZO. | Planning Board | |
| Merge DB and GBD1 zones based on parking requirements. | Planning Board | |
| Develop and add Form Based Zoning in areas requiring Design Review. | Planning Board | |
| Map Contract Zones for affordable and senior housing in DB, GBD1 and GBD2. | Planning Board | |
| Revisit outdoor sales, adding specific allowances and prohibitions to OZO. | Planning Board | |
| Require alternative energy and/or minimal energy use on new projects. | Planning Board | |
| Expand Dark Sky lighting requirements for all subdivisions, new construction, and structural alterations, both commercial and residential. | Planning Board | |
| Potentially establish a single zone for properties, except properties in Shoreland Zones, currently situated in multiple zones. | Planning Board | |
| Analyze and report on feasibility and desirability of allowing food trucks at Footbridge and North Beach. | Planning Board | |
| Encourage the extension of and connection of sewer lines into all Shoreland Zones. | Town Manager | |
| Audit and monitor subdivision restricted land areas for compliance. | CEO | |
| Add definition of “impervious surfaces” to OZO. | Planning Board | |
| Update Site Plan application checklist in OZO to require State stormwater permits and federal permits where required, and review waiver of stormwater plan. | Planning Board | |
| Analyze and report on costs and viability of adding Soils layer to Town GIS map. | CEO | |
| Ensure that the capital improvement plan includes costs associated with implementation of strategies. | Town Manager | |
| Coordinate with neighboring communities regarding land use designations and regulatory and non- regulatory strategies. | Town Manager | |
| Provide that the Code Enforcement Officer is supported and trained and meets State certification requirements. | Town Manager | |
| Direct that a minimum of 75% of new municipal capital investment goes into growth areas. | Town Manager | |
| Periodically (at least every 5 years) evaluate progress on implementation of the Plan. Set a date in 2029. | Select Board/ Implementation Commitee | |
| Analyze and make recommendations regarding the OZO’s noise Ordinance, with suggestions for improvements, including equipment noise and early morning/late night disturbances. | Town Manager | |
| Ensure that all Town-managed lights meet Dark Sky lighting standards. | Public Works | |
| Simplify the process of adding cell boosters in Town. | CEO | |
| Assign responsibility for implementing the Future Land Use Plan to the appropriate Board or municipal official. | Select Board | |
| Track development that will impact Town resources in the community by type and location. | CEO | |
| Evaluate whether Ogunquit can manage a strategic retreat from the coastline if or when sea level rise becomes untenable. | Town Manager | |
| Streamline permitting requirements for development in the designated Growth Areas. | Planning Board |