In 2008 the Town of Damariscotta was selected as one of four towns nationwide to participate in the Orton Family Foundation Orton's unique approach to town planning. The Orton Family Foundation is offering funds and partnership to find the best tools that will work in Damariscotta so we can plan our future together. This work is a prelude to planning that is required over the next two years to update the Damariscotta Comprehensive Plan. Successful plans and implementation strategies to make these plans into reality take lots of community involvement. We need to work together to shape the future of our town.
How can residents and taxpayers get involved? The Heart and Soul process is to engage all of Damariscotta. DPAC will provide many opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to discuss our town's past, present, and hopes for the future, including public forums, workshops, one-on-one interviews, a website, maps, surveys and other methods. We need you to tell us your stories and experiences that shape your view of Damariscotta, a place many people describe as a truly special community. But why are we unique? What makes Damariscotta really “tick?”
What is the cost to Damariscotta residents? This two-year project includes a $25,000 cash match from the town and $44,400 of in-kind time that includes 16 DPAC's volunteer members, our town manager and town planner, using donated meeting space. Friends of Midcoast Maine will contribute a $25,000 in-kind match over two years as well. The Select Board has also committed to raising $15,000 over two years to support the project, which will be raised through grants, donations and other ways. The town staff will donate some of their time (as they have been doing over the past year) by assisting the Select Board-appointed DPAC committee. The town manager and the town planner will also continue their customary work as town employees.
What will Friends of Midcoast Maine do? FMM has given DPAC volunteer support for the past six months, and with Heart and Soul funding, FMM will continue to help coordinate the project with staff support and provide a contact point for project details. FMM is located in the Damariscotta Chamber of Commerce office on Mondays & Tuesdays from 8:30am-4:30pm.
What will the results be after two years? After a two-year process of engaging the citizens, business owners, taxpayers, residents and others, our community will have a clearer vision of where we want to be in 20 years, what the town will look like, and how we'll get there. The Orton Family Foundation and the Heart and Soul Project do not have any preconceived notions of where we should end up or a “hidden agenda.” It's all up to us! Together we will decide our future and will live with it.
Participants The Town of Damariscotta (www.damariscottame.com) Town Manager Greg Zinzer: 563-5168; Email: Town Planner – Tony Dater - Phone: 563-5168 Email: planner@damariscottame.com Town Selectboard liaison – Dave Wilbur Email: dwilbur65233@roadrunner.com
Damariscotta Planning Advisory Committee (DPAC) Chair – David Atwater - Phone: 563-1366; davidatwater@gmail.com Vice-Chair – Steven Hufnagel - Phone: 563-1393 Email: steven@draclt.org Project Director – Jane Lafleur: Phone: 380-4802, Email: info@friendsmidcoast.org Committee Members: Mal Gormley, Laurie Green, Jack Parker, Mary Kate Reny, Jack Spinner, Marianne Pinkham, Steve Peters, Garrett Martin, Jack Spinner, Rob Nelson, Peter Drum, Robin Mayer, George Parker, Alan Pooley, Amy Winston.
Friends of Midcoast Maine (www.friendsmidcoast.org) Friends of Midcoast Maine (FMM) works with Midcoast communities to plan for healthy growth and sustainable development. FMM helps people develop an effective voice for the protection of the natural and cultural legacy, while planning for the healthy growth of their community. FMM works to help communities identify and save what is valued, while promoting change in a way that serves us now and is sustainable for generations to come. Executive Director – Jane Lafleur: Phone: 380-4802, Email: info@friendsmidcoast.org
The
Orton Family Foundation (www.orton.org)
The
Orton Family Foundation has been assisting small towns with land use
planning tools since 1995. They know, as most community planners and
comprehensive plan committees do, that the vision for the community
must come from the people who live and work in the town. The
Foundation promotes inclusive, proactive decision-making and land
use planning by providing guidance, tools, research, capital and
other support to citizens and leaders. Projected Time Line
October, 2008 through December 2008 Heart and Soul Launch events at Pumpkin Festival and other venues; Begin tape and video recordings of community members; Hold public forum to identify special places in Damariscotta; Conduct listening sessions and community forums about past present and future development challenges; Create living archive with recordings, videos, and photo journals; Collect and analyze socio-economic data on Damariscotta; Hold “community conversations” workshops. January 2009 through March 2009 Conduct several brief surveys of community members on specific topics on-line; Draft a vision statement for Damariscotta based on listening sessions, data collection, surveys and community input. April 2009 to August 2009 Plan and hold public workshop on specific development plans that request public input; Prepare for more detailed design workshop for Fall including fund-raising, advertising, and other details September 2009 to December 2009 Hold design workshop for more detailed public input on specific area of town as identified by the public; Review design workshop report from
the public process and develop suggested language to amend comprehensive plan, ordinances, and other regulatory and financing
mechanisms. January 2010 to June 2010 Begin draft of comprehensive plan update based on the priorities and vision of the community; Begin draft of code updates; Begin developing financing mechanisms and budget priorities. |
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What is Damariscotta's Heart & Soul? |
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