By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

HARRISON — A downtown revitalization effort is like a big puzzle. There are many pieces to look over and determine if they fit with others.

A complicated puzzle takes time to sort and plug the pieces together.

Jeff Preble of Wright-Pierce along with grant writer Darryl Sterling provided the Harrison Select Board a road map of where the town’s downtown revitalization has been and where it is headed next.

Pieces include a downtown parking study, which needs to be coordinated with Maine DOT, parks and open space, whether to create a TIF district, and what to do with the historical town clock?

Consultants will need to be hired. A parking study will take six to nine months. It will include public meetings, with a final report likely out by year’s end.

“You end up getting a safety audit. They come down and look at accident data, they look at access management and parking issues,” Preble noted. “The downtown revitalization action plan that we just completed is a good focal point that they’ll look at all of those things, such as ADA crossings. They’ll define the project, so in 2025, we will know how big a project we can do.”

And once a project is defined, Sterling can seek out funding sources, including grants. If federal funds can be secured (ex. 80% federal funding, 10% DOT and 10% local), Sterling said the town could find itself in a favorable spot.

Preble said studies will also look at off-street parking options around town, as well as the Long Lake boat launch area and trailer parking.

“The best outcome is when you end up being parking neutral, where you lost some spaces in a couple of spots, but then you’re able to find some additional spaces elsewhere,” Preble noted.

Public engagement, the speakers added, remains an important part of the revitalization project. Some early public workshop sessions and surveys found what amenities at existing parks and open spaces are important to residents.

A “Survey Monkey” questionnaire is a possibility to survey public opinion, as well as holding another public workshop.

“We’ll present some of the ideas and then break into groups and see what the priorities are,” Preble said. “We’ve developed some concepts and renderings based on the priorities that folks came up with to get their ideas across.”

Officials emphasized that renderings are presently just ideas, nothing has been decided or etched into stone.

Sterling spoke about balancing some historic preservation in the downtown, and securing grant loan funding “that could help the private sector to get this done, incentivize the building improvements.” While some facades could get a facelift, Sterling said it might be a perfect time to go a little deeper and also check structural integrity.

“A little bit of paint goes a long way,” he said. “There’s different cosmetic things you can do. You could jazz up and put nice window displays just to show that things are looking better.”
Sterling would like to bring in 8 to 10 different buildings for the façade program.

Resident Raymond Rynkowski suggested the town be a little more open regarding this planning process. A Main Street resident, Rynkowski voiced concerns regarding sidewalks, parking, lighting and traffic.

“If you want to widen the street, you’re going to pick up the speeds. Nobody goes 25,” he said.

Rynkowski questioned how Sterling knows what is best for Harrison since he does not reside here.

Town Manager Cass Newell said Sterling has been hired by the town as a grant writer and is qualified to develop such plans.

“An action plan was developed based on the priorities that the town wants, not what I want for the town,” Sterling responded.

Newell added that some work has happened “behind the scenes” because “not all of it can be done with 50 to 60 people present.” She pointed out there is a Revitalization Committee.

Officials emphasized that many ideas remain in the concept phase and ultimately “could be something totally different from what is shown here.”

Officials added there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, but they identified the process to get there, and eventually, will end up with a decent project as well as address safety concerns.

In other meeting notes:

Hearing on ordinances tonight. Citizens rejected changes to the Building Permit Requirements Ordinance at last year’s town meeting, but it will be back on the warrant again this June.

A public hearing on the ordinance, as well as the Floodplain Management Ordinance (it was updated in 2020, but new maps have been generated requiring another revision), will be held tonight, Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.

Code Enforcement Officer Jim Fahey was absent at town meeting due to illness, and he understood why citizens likely voted the measure down because they “did not fully understand it.”

“We made some simple changes, one being the height of buildings back to 35 feet to match what it is in Shoreland Zoning. That was a typo when it got approved five years ago,” Fahey said. “During the transcription process, a couple of things got left out, such as the word residential on structures. It mean you couldn’t build anything in this town over 30 feet. That was never the intention. Those were typos. So, we’re correcting those.”

A section has been added to address accessory dwelling units.

“The state forced our hand. A bill has been proposed. They’re trying to exempt certain towns, which basically eliminates our minimum lot size that we have in this town to control development and to keep density at a certain level,” Fahey said. “It takes local control away and says you can build an accessory dwelling unit on your property regardless of your lot size.”

The exception, Fahey noted, is Shoreland Zone. Because the town does not have a full-time fire department, the town proposes to require sprinklers in accessory dwelling units on undersized lots. Fahey added that the units can’t be used for short-term rentals “because the intent of the (proposed) law is to create housing, not create short-term rentals.”

For clarification, Fahey said if someone has an unattached garage and want to turn it into an accessory dwelling unit, it would require sprinklers. If a property owner is looking to add an in-law apartment and avoid adding sprinklers, don’t build a kitchen there.

Budget work underway. It’s time to crunch some numbers. The Select Board has four scheduled budget workshops — Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m., Feb. 23 from noon to 2 p.m., March 18 from noon to 2 p.m., and March 25 at 4:30 p.m.

The meetings are open to the public, however, citizens can only listen to discussions, and not pose questions or comments. A public hearing will be held on Thursday, March 28 at 6 p.m., at which time the public can offer comments and ask questions regarding the proposed warrant.

Other important dates on the calendar: March 4 is when nomination papers will be available for public offices, with a return date by April 12 at 4 p.m.; tentative dates for local elections is June 11 and town meeting on June 12.

Fire Study update. Several interviews with board members and fire department have been done, as well as tours of the fire station and an equipment check.

A group meeting with department members and officers is planned for Feb. 17.

Newell asked that if citizens wish to chime in, individual Zoom meetings can be scheduled.

“The only caveat, as requested by fire study personnel, is that you go through the two points of contact — which would be myself or the fire chief,” Newell said. “All you have to do is let us know you’re requesting an individual Zoom meeting and we will put your information in touch with fire study personnel.”

Fish or no Fish? Resident Rick Sykes wondered if the town planned to hold the annual ice fishing derby since he was unable to find any information on the town’s website.

When he looked at the Rec Department’s calendar, “There’s nothing on it. I clicked on where it says you can register for programs. There’s no programs to register. I’m wondering if we are having a fishing derby, and is the Recreation Department active at this point?” Sykes asked. “I just think for the folks, especially February vacation, whose kids are out of school, may be looking for something they can do.”

Town Manager Cass Newell said the derby is set for the last Saturday or Sunday in February, and the town will be holding a Winterfest, Feb. 25. She noted that most Rec information is posted on the town’s Facebook page and the town weekly update, which is sent to those who sign up to receive the alert.

As for the Rec Department, Newell said, “The department is active.”

New race added. Harrison will host two road races this year. A Race for Recovery 5K, to benefit Tucker House (a recovery residence for women in North Bridgton, and a new recovery residence for men coming to Harrison), will take place on Sunday, June 30.

The following Sunday, July 7, the previous Rec-sponsored Run by the Lake 5K will be renamed the Christmas in Harrison Santa Mingle and Elf Jingle. It will also include a kids one-mile Fun Run, which starts before the 5K. Last year’s event attracted about 150 people, Newell said.

Roads posted. In accordance with state law, local roads will be posted for load limits from March 1 to May 1.

“The posting is done to protect our roadways from damage during the spring thaw cycle,” read Newell from state law. “Most roads throughout the rural section of our community are posted, strict compliance has been requested.”

State roads, such as Routes 117 and 35 and Bolsters Mills Road are not posted.