Ogunquit This Week

Police report drunken e-scooter crashes over the summer

Detective Joe LaBier described several recent incidents, mostly late at night near closing time, in which impaired riders on small motorized scooters were injured — one seriously. He explained that because the scooters' motors fall below Maine's wattage threshold, they are not treated as motor vehicles, so there is no impaired-driving offense. He noted riders typically wear no helmets or protective gear, and that riders ranged in age from their early 20s to mid-40s. He also cautioned that inexpensive scooters can accelerate faster than people expect.

Committee asks police for seasonal crash data

The committee asked Detective LaBier to compile crash and injury numbers for the season, similar to the report provided last year, including rider ages where allowed. He agreed to put it together but said it may not be ready by the next meeting because scooter incidents are logged in a separate system from traffic crashes and must be pulled by hand. He noted some investigative details cannot be publicly disclosed.

National Night Out recap with Wells Police

Detective LaBier described the August 4 National Night Out held with the Wells Police Department. A Wells sergeant set up a tabletop bicycle-safety course with small plastic bikes and literature, borrowed from a hospital, that drew strong interest from families. Organizers handed out bike lights, reflective gear, and other giveaways. The committee chair was unable to attend.

Micromobility education and state legislation

Members discussed a national On Point radio segment on e-bike and micromobility rules, which highlighted confusion among the different classes of e-bikes and faster "e-moto" style vehicles that manufacturers sometimes pass off as ordinary e-bikes. The chair asked members who had not yet listened to do so before October so they can share opinions. The committee's printed tri-fold brochure and its goal of gaining traction on Maine regulation were also noted.

Members discuss an October Bike Friendly Community workshop

The committee discussed devoting its October meeting to reviewing the League of American Bicyclists survey results and report card, with an eye toward moving Ogunquit from its current bronze Bike Friendly designation toward silver. Members also planned to check whether five additional award signs for the town lines have arrived, following up with staff who handle purchasing. Because there was no quorum, the plan was informal rather than a formal vote.

No formal vote; members agreed informally to hold the workshop at the October 21 meeting.

Bike racks, Village Partnership painting, and sidewalk grant

Two new four-loop bike racks have been installed — one by the Jacob's Lot restrooms and one in the scooter corral at Main Beach — and members said the Main Beach racks are well used. On the Village Partnership Initiative, some Public Works painting is done and the committee still needs to send the Select Board an official recommendation, with cost estimates, for further items. On the two costly sidewalk projects, members said the town's stormwater (MS4) obligations and existing repairs make grant funding a long process that is not a near-term priority.

Members discuss a 3:30 p.m. meeting time

To ease travel and scheduling for members, the committee discussed shifting its regular start time from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. going forward. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21. Because the meeting had no quorum, the change was agreed informally.

Members agreed informally to move to 3:30 p.m.; no formal vote was taken.

Tax rate drops to $6.50 per $1,000

Assessor Michelle McDonald presented the tax commitment and overlay, reporting that the town's total valuation rose about 1.37% and recommending a tax rate of $6.50 per $1,000 — a 23-cent (3.4%) decrease. She certified the town's assessment ratio at 79% and explained that state-reimbursed exemptions such as the homestead exemption are adjusted downward this year. Member Ouellette and others asked how the ratio and exemption changes affect taxpayers.

Approved 5-0, setting the tax rate at $6.50 per $1,000 for FY 2026-2027.

"Kirsten's Crossover" memorial approved for one year

Members Nobile and Ouellette pulled this from the consent agenda to debate whether the town should first adopt a policy for naming public assets. Nobile read an anonymous resident letter urging a formal, transparent naming process before dedicating one of the town's few beach crossovers. Chair Whitelaw argued a small memorial sign for Kirsten Ross, a longtime advocate for the coast and piping plovers, did not require an ordinance. Elaine Cooper, who made the request, and Conservation Commission Chair Wendy Levine (by Zoom) spoke in favor. With Member Vogel gone and the Board split, an initial motion failed on a tie. The Board then approved designating the crossover near markers 3 and 4 as Kirsten's Crossover for one year while it develops a naming policy or ordinance. Final sign design and placement will return for approval.

Approved 3-1 for a one-year designation, with the Board tasked to draft a naming policy or ordinance.

Clam licenses renewed with new free senior category

Len Pierce presented the Shellfish Conservation Commission's recommendations for FY 2026-2027, largely consistent with prior years, with digging every other Sunday beginning November 1. Under an ordinance residents approved this past June, the town now offers a new license category for residents and taxpayers over 65 — the recommendation allows up to 10 free senior licenses this year. Pierce also reported the commission and a DMR representative completed a fall survey of the clam flats, the first in many years, with help from several volunteers. No one spoke at the public hearing.

Approved 5-0 for the license prices and sale, November 2026 through March 2027.

Board weighs a new framework for its committees

Members Nobile and Ouellette presented a draft plan to standardize how the Select Board communicates with, supports, and reviews the town's many boards and committees — including annual work plans tied to the comprehensive plan, clearer liaison duties, and regular reporting. Ouellette said the review would evaluate committee functions, not individuals, and ask whether long-standing committees remain relevant. Residents Rick Dolliver and Jay (Jerry) Smith raised questions about a code of ethics and about how and when to engage Select Board liaisons. The Board agreed not to vote yet, planning to send the draft to committee chairs for feedback and revisit it in October and November.

No vote taken; the draft will go to committee chairs for input, with possible formal action in the fall.

Update on state stormwater (MS4) requirement

The Town Manager reported that the state Department of Environmental Protection rescinded its earlier demand that Ogunquit enroll immediately, placing the town in a cohort that must be ready by July — which eases time pressure. Staff are meeting roughly every other week, building baseline inventories and working with regional partners (SMPDC) alongside other newly designated communities. Chair Whitelaw stressed the need to meet the state mandate while protecting the town's character, and staff said the town's existing conservation and water-quality work already meets many requirements and could open the door to grant funding. A fuller update is planned for the first meeting in November.

New Dunaway Center programs: Mah Jongg and a town-wide read

Member Ouellette pulled this from consent so the public could hear the details. A town staff member described launching a small pilot Mah Jongg group next month, potentially expanding it, alongside the popular senior exercise class that now draws about 50 people. She also outlined "One Book, One Community," a town-wide read with discussion groups and a visiting Maine author, developed with support from the Ogunquit Library and local Chamber. Members welcomed broader community use of the completed Dunaway Center.

Approved 5-0, endorsing the pilot Mah Jongg program and development of One Book, One Community.

General Business District would become the town's growth area

State law (Title 30-A) requires towns to name a growth area where development is directed, and in a growth area with public water and sewer the minimum lot size drops to 5,000 square feet with up to four units allowed. Members worried that applying this downtown or on quiet residential streets would overwhelm parking and traffic and let developers tear down homes for four-unit buildings. Their working plan is to merge the two general business zones (GB1 and GB2) into a single General Business District along Route 1 and make that the growth area, leaving residential districts and the Limited Business District out. Members noted qualified affordable-housing projects could exceed the height limit by one story (about 14 feet).

Downtown would be renamed and expanded as a "Village District"

To keep the busiest, most walkable core out of the denser growth rules, the Board discussed pulling the Downtown Business District out of the growth area, renaming it the "Village District," and expanding it northward roughly toward the Grasshopper Inn and Church Street. Members talked through where to draw the lines to include landmarks like the greenery and certain inns while leaving some outlying hotels in the general business zone. The aim, the Chair said, is to keep the area walkable and preserve storefronts rather than let residences "choke out" the shops.

One Family Residential district folded into Residential

The Board reviewed draft edits to delete the One Family Residential (OFR) district and treat those areas as regular Residential (R), including allowing two-to-four-family dwellings where public water and sewer exist. Members also discussed lowering site plan review to a simple permit for multifamily dwellings, noting the state bars towns from adding review hurdles in these zones that regular residential development doesn't face. Design review already in place in the business district would remain.

Bed-and-breakfasts would stay out of residential zones

Because converting OFR to Residential would newly allow bed-and-breakfasts (a transient accommodation type) in those areas, the Board discussed keeping them not permitted in residential districts, with any existing ones grandfathered. Members treated a broader crackdown on short-term rentals as a separate, bigger issue to handle another time. Several noted concern that inns and bed-and-breakfasts are already being converted to short-term rentals, costing the town businesses.

Adding municipal buildings and uses to conditional zoning

The Board worked on language to let town-owned (municipal) buildings, structures, and uses be approved through conditional zoning in allowed districts, while keeping them not permitted in shoreland zones. Members debated whether to reference "public" or "municipal" buildings so the rule couldn't be used to open something like a public gym, and pointed to the old town garage as an example of a town property that might get a new use. They also reviewed a draft definition of "light industry," recalling the existing use up Captain Thomas Road where sets and props are built.

Next steps

The Chair said he would compile the night's notes into cleaner draft ordinance language and maps for the next workshop, where the Board plans to narrow the details further before preparing something to present to the public. Any zoning changes would ultimately go to the voters.