Jan 27, 2021
Augusta, Maine, city officials are considering whether to allow new self-storage development in two zoning districts. Though there isn’t yet a proposal for either area, the move would enable vacant retail buildings in the Civic Center District and Regional Business District to be converted to storage as a conditional use, according to the source. Indoor self-storage, which isn’t addressed in the city’s current zoning, would also be allowed.
“This is something that has come up a number of times in the past few years, with respect to some of the larger retail locations that are having trouble being filled,” Matt Nazar, development director, recently told city councilmembers. “And one of the potential uses for a portion of those existing retail spaces is for indoor self-storage units; basically, cutting some of those spaces up into individual self-storage spaces. It may end up providing some level of use in some of these commercial facilities that couldn’t,
Maine Recovery Advocacy Project, lawmakers to address state’s addiction crisis
As Augusta prepares for 130th legislative session, Mainers come together to call for action from elected officials; Lawmakers and organizers to hold virtual call on Friday at 7 p.m. to discuss agenda Wed, 01/27/2021 - 1:00pm
As overdoses reach record levels across Maine, The Maine Recovery Advocacy Project (ME-RAP), along with other advocates and legislators, today is urging action on four bills to reform how Maine deals with addiction and act on solutions that will make an impact across the state. The state of Maine is on track to see record-breaking overdose deaths in 2020, with the Third Quarter Drug Overdose Report, released by the Office of Attorney General and the Office of Chief Medical Examiner last week, showing that there were 380 deaths caused by drugs in the first three quarters of 2020, the same number of total deaths in 2019. Right now, Maine is on course to lose as many peo
Augusta considers self-storage businesses for vacant retail spaces
Storage businesses are not allowed now in two of the city s largest retail shopping areas.
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The building formerly occupied by Sears at the Turnpike Mall in Augusta. Sears moved out of the site in 2017.
Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
AUGUSTA As stores lose sales to online shopping, leaving many retail spaces vacant, Augusta officials are considering allowing self-storage businesses in two zoning districts that include the city’s two largest retail shopping areas.
The proposal from city staff members, recommended by the Planning Board, would allow self-storage businesses as conditional uses in two zoning districts the Civic Center District and Regional Business District where they are not allowed now.
Last Updated: Jan 16, 2021 12:16 PM
Meaford s new fire chief Courtney Allen. (photo supplied by Municipality of Meaford)
Meaford has hired a new fire chief.
The Municipality has announced Courtney Allen will take on the role of heading up Meaford’s fire department.
Allen comes to Meaford with more than 17 years of experience as a firefighter. Most recently, he worked as a Captain with Ottawa Fire Services and was responsible for coordinating volunteer firefighters within two composite stations.
“I look forward to becoming a member of the Meaford community and working with the dedicated volunteer firefighters who serve it,” Allen says. “In the short time I have been here, the level of professionalism and community focus this department demonstrates, is world-class.”
Augusta task force advocates for substance use recovery readiness
Officials say the coronavirus pandemic has left more people isolated who have turned to increasingly dangerous opiates.
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AUGUSTA With projections showing more people died of drug overdoses in Maine in 2020 than ever before, leaders of a substance use task force told city councilors Thursday Augusta needs to become a recovery ready community.
Leaders of the recently-formed Ad-Hoc Substance Use Task Force Advisory Committee, who expect to finalize their goals next week, said opiate use has spiked in the city, state, country and the world, and the problem became worse as people struggled through the coronavirus pandemic and its restrictions which left many people isolated and vulnerable.