Summary of Comments
York Beach Community Dialogs
Saturday, October 22, 2005 • Senior Center

Six one-hour sessions were held beginning at 9:00 am and ending at 3:00pm. One hundred and nine people attended the sessions (a few people attended more than one session, so there were approximately 90 different individuals attending). The sessions were videotaped by Spruce Creek Productions to maintain a historic record of the dialogs. This six-hour video will be available at the chamber of commerce in its original, unedited format on CD- ROM.

The following is not a complete transcript of all comments made at the meetings. It summarizes the questions that were posed, the responses to those questions by the participants based on their knowledge of York Beach, and the ideas generated through the discussion of the six goals that were outlined at the beginning of each session. These goals had previously been developed by the York Beach Renaissance Committee. As the day evolved, people responded to and built on ideas that had previously been presented. Beach merchants were encouraged to attend sessions one and two, and the general public was encouraged to attend sessions 3-6. However, there was a mix of both groups in each session.

Legend:

?? -- refers to a question posed by a participant

R -- refers to a response to a question

I- refers to an idea presented

YB- refers to York Beach

Goals were not listed in any prioritized order. They were designated a number simply for reference purposes. Each goal is listed with comments made on the papers that were attached to the wall. Participants were encouraged to attach ideas and questions directly onto the goals at the end of each session, and then to use small stickers to mark which goals or ideas they supported but had no comments about, and also to those that they thought were not important but for which they had no further comments.

Goal 1- Improve the Visual Attractiveness of the Streets

(At the end of each session, participants were asked to put stickers next to items they supported---we denote these here as "yes" and "no" with the number of participants who responded to that item)

Idea #1- Move the Utility Wires to the Rear of Buildings

Public Comment:

Idea #2- Establish Building Design Standards

Public Comment:

Idea #3 -

Public Comment:

Goal 2- Increase Pedestrian Amenities

Public Comment:

 

Idea #1- Widen and Brick the sidewalks

                                    YES- 6 and 1 widen but not brick

                                    NO- 1

Public Comment:

Idea #2- Change Street Lighting

                                    YES- 7

                                    NO-1

Idea # 3- Add Public Seating, Planters Pocket Parks, etc...

                                    YES- 10

                                    NO- 0

Public Comment:

Idea #4- Add a Public Restroom

                                    YES- 8

                                    NO- 0

Idea #5- Eliminate On-Street Parking

                                    YES- 6

                                    NO- 0

Public Comment:

 

Goal 3- Encourage Development of Upper Floors

Idea #1- Change Density Requirements- 1 yes

Public Comment:

•  Parking spaces per unit- 1 yes, 2 no

•  Lot coverage- 1 yes

•  Signage

•  Building height

•  SFD per unit

Ocean Ave- 11

Beach Street- 19

Goldenrod- 6

Railroad- 26

Ave-5

Total= 67 spaces

304 Ellis Park

41 Front of Wild Kingdom

61 Ballpark

Total= 406 spaces

Idea# 2- Change Building Codes- 4 yes

Public Comment:

•  Stairwell size

•  Windows/doors

Goal 4- Increase Year Round Activities

Idea #1- New Use for Winebaum Center

                                    YES- 1 yes

                                    NO- 0

Public Comment:

Idea #2- Indoor Pool (2 Acres, 12 KSF)

                                    YES- 18 yes

                                    NO- 0

Public Comment:

Idea #3- Ice Rink (3 Acres, 37 KSF)

                                    YES- 18

                                    NO- 0

Public Comment:

Idea #4- New Businesses

•  Professional Offices

•  ATM

•  Bank

YES- 3

NO- 0

Public Comment:

Goal 5- Make Transportation system more supportive of other goals

Idea #1- New Access Rd to Rte One

                                    YES- 8

                                    NO- 0

Public Comment:

Public Comment:

•  new town hall- 1 yes

•  fire station

•  police station- 1 yes

•  D.P.W.

•  Car storage

•  A must do soon

Idea #2- Loop Road in York Beach- 2 yes

Public Comment:

Idea #3- New/More Trolley Stops- 2 yes

Public Comment:

Idea #4- Bike/Walking Paths- 5 yes

Public Comment:

Idea #5- New Parking lot/Garage

                                    YES- 5

                                    NO- 0

Public Comment:

 

 

Goal #6- Maintaining Water Quality of Beach

This is largely a question of storm water drainage and wetland protection.

Everyone supports this goal and related public investment- No Discussion Today

Public Comment:

Public Comments from each session:

Session 1

9:00am

25 participants

 

??          Can seasonal businesses become year-round, or is there a constraint based on the availability of water?

R          YB has the highest level of utilities: 3 phase power, year-round water, sewer, and gas.

R          There is not enough traffic to support year-round expansion.

??          If we invest first, will they come?

I            There should be a requirement that all residents at the beach use trash barrels to reduce seepage from garbage into the ground water.

R          Group effort needs to make change together on electricity. Some is currently underground but some crosses over from one property to another.

R          YB is a blue-collar town.

R          York has milked YB until it's dried up.

R          25% of the tax revenue flows out of YB and only 7% is returned.

I            Meter revenues should stay in YB. This generates $175,000--$200,000 in annual revenues that should go into a YB general fund for improvements.

R          YB evolved into blue collar, from daily downtown commerce to more tourism based t-shirt shops.

I             Landscaping on sidewalks would improve the visual appearance.

R             Landowners own the sidewalks, therefore they should be responsible for improving them.

??          Who is responsible for maintaining this area? Should a small chamber be established? Or should a merchants association or a business district be created?

R          YB should secede from the Town of York---YB has no representation on the Board of Selectmen or Planning Board. The agreement when the towns merged states that there will always be a seat for YB on the Planning Board and Board of Appeals.

??          Is the Renaissance owner-driven?

R          Yes.

R          Year-round business can happen---look at what the Woods Family has done.

I            Build a swimming pool complex at YB to drive year-round activity. Swimming pool group would pay for the 12,000 sq. ft. building, but wants to lease the land from the town. They would need 2 acres with parking.

I            Build an ice rink to drive year round traffic to the beach. Tournaments of 30 teams on weekends would fill motel rooms. The ice rink group needs 3 acres. They would be a non-profit board and lease land from the town.   Look at   Nashua, NH's facility called the Conway Ice Arena. It includes the DPW, arena, rink, and parking---37,000 sq. ft. of building.

??          Is there enough available land at YB to accommodate this?

R          There are 37 acres not in the flood plain: 17 acres at the Wild Kingdom, 8 acres owned by Woods, the balance is in small parcels.

??          Would this kind of development require spot zoning?

I            Need a parking garage.

R          Change zoning at YB to do these things.

R          York's Comprehensive Plan needs to be implemented because it's all in the document now. More lot coverage, more signage, etc.

R          The zoning limit of 35' in height for buildings was determined by the fire apparatus at the time the ordinance was written.

??         How tall are our current fire ladders?

R          110'

??         What height would the fire dept. think is safe given the existing equipment?

R          60' if all other safety systems are in place.

??         Is there a consensus of support for the rink and pool ideas?

R          Yes

R          We need to speak positively about the possibilities at YB and not focus on the negative. YB should become a year-round part of the York community.

R           Owners have to be on board. This has to be attractive to the owners.

Session 2

10:00am

15 Participants

??        Access road---is this a reality?

R          It could be. The town could buy land for it.

R          The benefits of an access road are that it could reduce traffic congestion in the village.

R          The fire dept. would benefit from direct access to Rte. 1.

I           Make the ball field into a esthetically attractive parking lot.

I           Build a new ball field at the pool/rink complex.

I           Make the parking in front of the Wild Kingdom and across from the fire station into a green-space park.

??        We need to document the demand on the ball field---how much use does it get?

R          An underlying goal has to be a net gain in parking.

R          YB has 470 public parking spaces.

I           Build an off-site integrated parking lot/garage off the access road with a walking/bike path, pocket gardens, and a trolley stop with direct service to the center of the downtown.

I            Identify and purchase land for off-site parking.

??         Is a parking garage undesirable?

R          It can be built to be attractive---not just a concrete block.

R          Look at Lewiston parking garages at the old mill site---very attractive and integrated into the land/streetscape.

R          Police must be involved for public safety if a garage is built.

R          Parking along Railroad and Ocean Ave, is very tight. Crosswalks are not visible, narrow passages for vehicles.

R          Railroad Ave. section is treacherous. Long Beach Ave. is also a safety issue.

??         Are there restrictions on building a parking garage?

R          Parking is an issue for 4 months a year.

R          More year-round business would attract tour buses.

I           We'd need tour bus parking and bathrooms available in the shoulder seasons.

R          Look at Manchester, VT on Rte 7 ---access road to the downtown is important.

R          Do not isolate YB as separate from the rest of the town. What is good for YB is good for all of York.

R          YB has a vested interest in the renaissance but this has to be incorporated into the rest of York.

R          Building design standards can be too dictating. A master plan is okay with suggestions, not mandates, for improvements to buildings.

R          Zoning covenants are good like in Freeport.

Session 3

11:00am

27 Participants

R          YB is a retail center. Pocket parks will just confuse people.

R          Brick sidewalks crumble, need repair, are difficult for wheelchairs.

R          Fix the drain in front of Shelton's.

R          We must make a public infrastructure investment at YB.

R          Thrilled about pool idea. It would be managed by a private group of investors, not a tax issue. It has to be self-sustaining, fee for service. Not paid for through tax dollars.

I           There has to be an improved traffic pattern---can't get through town without going through the village. Eliminate one-way circular traffic flow at YB.

I           Widen sidewalks, eliminate on-street parking.

R           Shelton's pedestrian crossing takes lots of time to get through.

I            Need loading zones for businesses if parking is eliminated on street. It's a customer amenity and also needed for deliveries.

I            Bay St. could be designated a loading zone street and closed to through traffic.   Foot traffic only.

I            Off-site parking should be no further away than ¼ mile for downtown access (5 minute walk max.) with a dedicated trolley servicing the parking lot to downtown loop.

R          YB will flood again.

I           New town hall and fire station should be incorporated into access road development.

I           Buy rights for access road from Wild Kingdom.

R          More traffic will use the access road to get to Ogunquit via Shore Rd. to avoid the Rte 1 back-up.

I           Co-locate more town services on new large site at YB.

I           Maybe include the DPW garage and new police station.

R          Comp. Plan has had a lack of citizen initiative to move this along.

I           Bike paths need pedestrian signs, share the road signs, bike racks. Go after federal dollars for bike related activities ----$286.5 million earmarked for cyclists in recent transportation bill.

I           Recent repainting of parking at the post office should allow traffic to flow one way in then around the back of the building and out the other side.

I           Locate a PO drop-box in the downtown.

R           Historic past was charming---keep the historic look of the area.

I            Add historical plaques to significant spots at the beach.

I            Restrict demolition of historic buildings---at least the facades.

Session 4

Noon

10 Participants

R          Conduit is waterproof for running electricity underground.

R          14' above seal level gets out of the flood plain.

R          Access road is the number 1 strategic need.

R          Public safety facility-yes. Town hall at the beach-no.

R          Rink parking could serve dual use---will have less use by rink people in summer, so could be used then for visitors.

R          Baseball field should move to better utilize critical space.

R          Handicapped access is restricted at stores and on sidewalks.

R          Need selectmen and businesses to champion this project.

R          Selectmen have pulled together a list of town-owned properties that they are considering selling to raise funds to buy land for town facilities. These new facilities need to be sited properly.

R          Town land purchase takes property off the tax rolls.

??        Who will create the zoning committee?

R          Selectmen should appoint a committee to do this work.

R          Try to get going now so some of this can be on the May ballot.

I           Develop a master plan for YB.

R          Do not eliminate the ballpark, It makes the area family friendly.

I           Make sure each item on the master plan can be voted on separately so it's not an all or nothing choice.

I           Need improved cellular access and wireless internet. New technology doesn't require huge cell towers. This can be done with telephone pole antennas. They are hard-wired with optical fibers---look at Wellesley, MA.

I            Eliminate Wild Kingdom entrance hot top to improve drainage.

??          Is the Wild Kingdom an anchor?

R            Absolutely. The chamber gets the most requests for information for that attraction than any other in the area. It drives a huge amount of traffic to the beach.

Session 5

1:00pm

10 Participants

Chuck Lawton, facilitator, summarized the previous 4 sessions. YB needs:

R          YB feels like the poor relative. Summer tourists are the focus now, not the residents. It's hard to live here year-round with no amenities open. Can't easily access the PO in the summer from Nubble Rd.

I           There should be no parking on Church St.

R           Volumn of traffic at YB has become very crowded in the summer. No one pays attention to private road signs.

??         Do we need to do a traffic flow study? Traffic count?

R          This is very exciting. The town hasn't invested in development anywhere in town.

R           Utilities underground would be a big improvement. The two-way to one way change every year is very dangerous.

I            Use public safety/DPW/parking garage to store cars during the winter for a fee as a convenience to residents who go south in the winter and as a revenue source for the town.

I            Swap ballpark for Ellis Park---eliminate most of Ellis Park parking to improve the visual landscape and create more green space at the seashore.

I            Dedicate some of the new parking garage revenue to Ellis Park so the revenue is an equivalent swap and not lost for the trustees. They need funds to maintain the bath house, etc.

R          Quality of shops needs to be improved. It has a honky-tonk feel to it now.  The buildings need to be upgraded.

I           Need more places to sit near the water---covered seating like at Ogunquit Beach.

R          YB has million dollar homes with honky-tonk shops---it's in an evolution now.

Session 6

2:00pm

22 participants

Chuck Lawton summarized the previous 5 sessions. Does the Comprehensive Plan and/or Draft 10B of the zoning ordinance address parking, access road, capital improvements, and performance standards at the beach?? It was generally agreed that a review of both documents will need to be done to see what has already been written and what might need to be added in order for appropriate zoning changes to be submitted for the May ballot.

I           A board that answers to the selectmen is the way to go forward.

I           Bring a zoning proposal forward.

R          Now is the opportunity ---we need public education about the big picture.

R          The town planner needs to be involved.

R          Instead of being reactionary, be pro-active.

R          The plan must be simple, easily understood, broadly discussed.

R          This renaissance has to be a priority.

R          Town needs to have ownership of the sidewalks in order to replace them.

R          Identify a person from the beach to serve on the board of selectmen.

I           Rogers Rd. is a potential access road.

I            Consider a new I-95 exit that connects directly to YB access road.