Castine Housing Committee Reviews Regional Housing Project, Weighs Priorities

The Castine Ad-hoc Housing Committee met on September 24 to hear a report on the regional HOOP housing initiative in Blue Hill and to discuss a draft strategic framework for the committee's work. Members agreed to review the draft and email the chair with areas of interest before their next meeting, now set for October 14. The group also discussed a rental housing survey, a possible future rental ordinance, and plans for a public-facing report on housing.

Key points

• The committee voted to re-accept its prior meeting minutes after agreeing to add an item on proposing policy language for evaluating new housing, including aesthetics.
• A member reported on the regional HOOP project's Blue Hill meeting, noting the project will wrap up in December with a housing toolkit and a cost calculator, and that individuals from several towns are forming a nonprofit to continue regional housing work.
• Members raised concerns about the reliability of the project's data, with one noting the figures come from the American Community Survey and are the same data used for the comprehensive plan.
• The committee discussed a draft strategic framework organized into areas including data analysis, financing and development, regional collaboration, zoning and ordinance review, and housing types such as workforce, family, and senior housing.
• Members debated the committee's scope, with some saying the draft seemed too broad for a small volunteer group and others favoring concrete, doable tasks tied to the town's larger housing goals.
• A member reported that the town's rental housing survey has drawn about 50 responses so far, with results expected to be compiled in the coming month.

Next steps

• Committee members will review the draft strategic framework and email the chair by the following Wednesday with areas they want to take on or suggested changes.
• The next meeting was moved from October 7 to October 14.
• Town staff will compile rental housing survey results and relaunch a business economic survey in the coming month.
• A member said the group could invite housing organizations such as Maine State Housing to present to the committee.

Read the full transcript