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The 1974 Maine Residential
Shoreland Zoning Act regulates development within 250 ft of the high water
mark of a great pond.
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All towns were required to
implement a shoreline ordinance with requirements as strict, or stricter
than those set by this statewide act.
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Some of the requirements
include: minimum lot sizes, and 100 ft setback for buildings, driveways, and
septic system leach fields for the shoreline.
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A 100ft buffer of natural
vegetation is also required between the shoreline and any clear cut area
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The state also created
Resource Protection Districts to protect particularly vulnerable areas such
as those adjacent to wetlands or with steep slopes from development. There are 5 RPDs in the China Lake
watershed and they are subject to more stringent development and land use
guidelines.
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Many of the properties
around China Lake were built before the 1974 regulations. Therefore, many buildings are not in
compliance with the current regulations but exist legally as grandfathered
structures. However, future
construction on these houses is limited and must be in accordance to the
current rules.
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Towns are required to
enforce these statewide regulations by appointing a code enforcement
officer.
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