Tracey Scheckel, new Town Councilor Tracey Scheckel is sworn in as a new Town Council member by Town Manager, Deborah Cabana. (Photo Nathan Tsukroff)

The districts are called Business Transitional 1 and 2. They cover the area now listed as Area 8 in the town's recently amended Comprehensive Plan. While Area 8 suggested allowing businesses to build in the area essentially across the street from the Town's Public Safety Building, the zoning lays out specific rules for those businesses.

Area 8 incorporates land on Shaker Road from just north of the Maine Turnpike up to Spruce Drive. The majority of Area 8 lies to the east of Shaker Road, with a few smaller parcels to the west. The southern portion of Area 8 overlays Wellhead District 2, a protective zone close to the town's drinking water supply.

The town draws water from an aquifer using a well on the east side of Shaker Road, just south of the Maine Turnpike. Water is supplied to residents and businesses throughout the central portion of Gray. The town does not have a waste water treatment plant so all buildings use private septic systems.

George Thebarge, consulting for the Town, described the proposed zoning districts to the Council at a public hearing at the start of the Council meeting. He described restrictions laid out by zoning. The ordinance would also provide guidance for building construction and land usage.

The introduction to the "Standards and Design Guidelines" section describes the zones as promoting "economic development while preserving the existing mixed-use character and neighborhood area of the location between Gray Village and the Dry Mills area . . . " Business Transitional District 1 is outside of Wellhead District 2 and allows basic usage without site plan reviews. Other business uses such as a drive-in restaurant or offices would require site plan review. Minimum lot size is 40,000 square feet. Business Transitional District 2 does not spell out restrictions, but rather defers to zoning section 402.25 D, permitted uses in WH2. Uses in BT2 would also require any site plan reviews specified for WH2.

Water District Concerns

Bruce Sawyer, a trustee for the Water District, spoke both during the public hearing about the zoning and before the vote on the proposal. He said the Water District had not been included in the process from the beginning, and wanted to review how the zoning would impact the quality and flow of water for the town's drinking supply. Sawyer said he will propose at the District's meeting this coming Monday that an outside consultant review the zoning to look at the impact on the town's water.

Newly-appointed Town Councilor Tracey Scheckel said she would like to table the zoning proposal until after the Water District review, since any zoning changes requested by the District could require additional public hearings on the issue.

Councilor Deborah Mancini favored moving forward, while acting Chair Andrew Upham said he wanted to meet construction deadlines, but did not want problems later if major changes were needed in the zoning. Under Gray's Town Charter, an amendment "as to any matter of substance" requires an additional public hearing before the change in zoning can be adopted.

Upham also said he was concerned that exemptions in the zoning would allow disturbingly-loud backup alarms from vehicles such as waste removal trucks.

After further discussion, Upham asked for either an amendment to address the Water District concerns, or to table the zoning proposal. Receiving neither motion, the Council voted unanimously to move forward.

New Councilor

Tracey Scheckel was sworn in Tuesday to fill the seat left by former Chair Alison Libbey who resigned for personal reasons in August. Scheckel will serve until the June municipal election. Voters will then decide on a person to fill out the final year of the term. Councilors serve for three years in staggered terms that allow election of one or two councilors each year.

Scheckel had applied for the seat along with Andrew Edsen and Mark Grover. The applicants submitted written answers to a list of questions from the Council. They then answered questions in person at the Council's workshop early last week. Councilors rated answers on a point system.

A week ago Thursday, the Council presented results in a brief special meeting. Scheckel received 169 points to Grover's 163. Edsen, just 18 years old, received 128 points and was commended by the Council for making the application. He said he would consider running for one of the three Council seats that will be up for election in June.

Winter Sand

The Council reconsidered its decision on the purchase of winter sand, choosing to purchase sand from Portland Sand and Gravel in Gray. The purchase was bumped off two weeks ago with an amended motion to put the purchase out to bid a second time with a more specific request.

Upham said the original bid was too broad because it asked for pricing of not just winter sand, but also other gravel needed for town projects throughout the year.

Councilor Margaret Hutchins sided with Upham in the vote two weeks ago, then requested reconsideration at this meeting. Scheckel also said the bid request for multiple items was confusing. SheWEDnesday 1017 said she supported making the purchase from Portland Sand and Gravel because that company was the low bidder on the line item for the winter sand. The Town charter requires the Town Manager to get Council approval on purchases over $10,000. Councilors generally did not see the purchases of other line items exceeding that amount, and did not see a need to include those items in the decision to purchase the sand.

Upham remained opposed to the purchase. Councilor Skip Crane, who normally votes in concert with Upham, was absent from Tuesday's meeting.