March 9, 2003 - Notes
Historical Committee - South Berwick Comprehensive Plan
Kristine Roberge chaired the meeting.~ In attendance were Norma Keim, Julie
Munyan, Warren Spencer, Jean Graunke, Jo Ann Osgood, Phil Kendrick, and
Wendy Pirsig (note-taker).
REVIEW of 1991 Comp Plan: We noted sparseness of scope and depth.~ We
reviewed the handout ?Implementation Strategies,? containing two policies
related to our committee.~ We are not sure when this was last updated.~ We
believe the ?Strategies? listed have not been implemented by the town.~ We
noted an unsuccessful attempt made in 1999 to secure a Community Development
Block Grant that could have provided a downtown planner and led to grant
moneys for maintenance.
TOOLS: Committee members are providing some tools for our work:
1.~ Phil will provide special large overlay map of downtown
2.~ Old Berwick Historical Society provided us with downtown map of 1872 and
?South Berwick Village? and ?Old Town of Berwick? history booklets for
background
3. 1998 Survey of Downtown (3 notebooks kept in~ - Kris will bring to next
meeting.~ Phil will see about having a copy made.
NEEDS:
1. Model ordinances from other towns.~ Wendy has found helpful website
(Dept. of the Interior) and will share with committee. Norma will contact
Maine Preservation.
2. Specialized advice pertaining to archaeology.~ Wendy will invite Dr.
Emerson ?Tad? Baker to speak to us.
GOALS for the new Plan: We began making a list of goals we would like to see
added as policies in the new draft.
1. Enlarge the South Berwick Historic District
2. Include a ?design review? element in HD ordinance, or expand existing
3. Clarify mandates related to HDC
4. Complete the 1998 Survey of Downtown as resource for town officials and
property owners - Research historic background of properties and provide
factual documentation
5. Stipulate in subdividion ordinance some protective language for potential
archaeological sites.
6. Enforce maintenance requirement in HDC ordinance
7. Explore/implement tax incentives to benefit South Berwick-- local, state,
federal
8. More local history taught in high school; perhaps furnish all students
with booklets.
9. Cemeteries:~ Place cemeteries under town responsibility.~ Develop a
restoration and maintenance plan.
10.~ Develop history tourism to attract visitors, benefit residents, and
bolster local business.~ Provide a welcome center (Jewett Eastman House?
Counting House?)
11. Rejuvenate the South Berwick Board of Trade as a local Chamber of
Commerce, with possible long-term goal of becoming a Main Street project
TO DO:
1. Define, or at least provide some clarity about what the town of South
Berwick means by the term ?historic?
2. Identify historic sites we want to protect -- both downtown and
elsewhere.~ Use TimeLine and other tools.
3. Complete list of goals.~ Prioritize?~ Define implementation strategy for
each.
NEXT MEETINGS:~ Sunday nights at 7:00 pm at town hall.
Dear Committee:
Sorry, I omitted from our list of goals an item we briefly discussed last
Sunday:
Creation of a National Register District for part or all of the downtown.
As we noted, this is different from what we currently have, South Berwick
Historic District.~ Different effects, different eligibility requirements,
different challenges to accomplish.~ Does not restrict the way owners may
use their property, but benefits include heightened awareness.
It's another tool we can consider, so I apologize that I forgot to put it on
the list.~ If we get a state-level speaker, I think they will be telling us
more about this option.
Wendy
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