By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — Voters at Special Town Meeting adopted a new Casco Comprehensive Plan.

The comp plan that came before voting residents as Warrant Article 6 represented ideas from community members who were involved in the planning workshops, and almost two years’ worth of work for the Casco Comp Plan Steering Committee.  

The comp plan was the most discussed article on Tuesday evening, although that conversation was fairly brief.

When the warrant article was on the floor, Casco Chair Scott Avery extended thanks to the dedicated committee members, and also to Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and planner Vanessa Farr — hired by the town to help facilitate the comp plan process.

One resident, Trevor Tidd walked to the microphone to speak.

“The plan is pro-growth plan. Some of the issues brought up: reduced parking requirement, heights of buildings . . . ” he said. “It has the word, ‘should.’ It is a pro-growth plan, and most of the town said they wanted to keep the rural character.”

Select Board member Grant Plummer said he somewhat agreed with Tidd.

“This is step in the direction of how it happens. Right now, we aren’t prepared for it. This is a way to initiate some ordinance development to be prepared for the stuff that is already happening and will be happening as far as development goes,” he said.

“Help us get prepared,” Plummer concluded.

In the end, the comp plan was adopted, 44-17.

The entire special town meeting — which took place at the Crooked River School gymnasium — transpired in less than 30 minutes. According to town staff, 64 people registered to vote.

Citizens approved Warrant Article 3, a request to use money ($87,000) from the sale of a 2008 Ford engine to buy a Chevrolet Tahoe response vehicle for the fire department. Residents voted 55-6-3 to support using department money in this manner. Although the funds will be available for the purchase, the Tahoe will not be delivered for about two years.

The majority of residents gave a thumbs up to Warrant Article 5, which will add the Solar Energy Systems to the Zoning Ordinance. 

There was no discussion for either the Tahoe purchase or the solar energy amendments.

Warrant Article 4 did require an explanation; and one was requested by someone in the audience.

Casco Town Manager Anthony “Tony” Ward offered to explain.

“It’s very simple. A human error was made on the town meeting warrant done in June. They wrote down the total sum from FY 2023 instead of FY 2024,” Ward said.

Then, resident voted, 58-5, to approve the appropriation of $13,697 from the unassigned funds to go into the budget for the operation of the Casco-Naples Transfer Site and Bulky Waste Facility.

The meeting ended at 7 p.m. Town officials had delayed the 6:30 p.m. start by almost 10 minutes to accommodate for people who might have thought that the meeting was being held at the Casco Community Center, instead of the school.