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Maine enacted the Mandatory
Shoreland Zoning Act in 1971 to protect the delicate ecosystems of lakes,
rivers, and wetlands. It is the
responsibility of the municipal governments to develop and enforce ordinances
to regulate the land within 25 feet of the high water mark.
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The 1988 Augusta Growth
Management Plan designated the land around Togus Pond as a Rural Ponds
District. All new development
must follow shoreland-specific ordinances to control erosion and minimize
phosphorus loading.
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Some of the ordinances
enacted by the City of Augusta include:
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-A minimum setback of 100
ft for all structures and septic systems
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-A minimum shore frontage
of 200 ft for individual lots
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-A minimum lot size of
40,000 square feet or .92 acres
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-And, Impervious surfaces
may not make up more than 20% of the lot
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Other ordinances address
driveways, septic systems, and buffer strips and can be found in the Augusta
Land Use Ordinance available in the town offices.
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Shoreland zoning also
addresses the issue of Non-conformance which is a major concern in the Togus
Pond watershed. A non-conforming structure doesnÕt
meet one or more of the shoreland regulations. This is usually due to the fact that these structures
were built before the rules were enacted, and are considered
Ògrandfathered.Ó Current
guidelines only require non-conformance to be addressed during expansion of
a property.
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