The Brunswick Town Council has approved new zoning rules that are meant to give residents and officials more oversight of development around Brunswick Landing, as new commercial and industrial projects have been proposed in an area that’s also seen lots of housing construction.
Hundreds of new housing units have been constructed on Brunswick Landing since 2017, deputy director of planning, Julie Erdman, told councilors on Monday night. At the same time, there are a few larger scale projects happening in the area, which used to be Naval Air Station Brunswick.
The projects include an expansion of STARC Systems, a local company that manufactures temporary walls, and the proposed conversion of an existing biodigester that aims to convert organic waste into natural gas — including taking in some materials that could be contaminated with PFAS chemicals.
That increased industrial development will bring more trucks that batter the roads, while also potentially creating air pollution, odors and other security concerns for nearby residents, according to the town’s planning staff.
“These amendments are intended to allow for more oversight and scrutiny over … industrial uses, such that public comment can be heard, and that any concerns posed by an industrial development may be better managed for protection of the public,” according to an emergency declaration attached to the changes that make them take effect immediately.
Councilors voted 8-0 to approve the new rules, with Councilor James Ecker recusing himself. The biggest change is that projects in the three zoning districts that make up Brunswick Landing will now need to undergo a so-called contract zoning process that gives officials more flexibility to limit or allow specific uses on a case-by-case basis.
No one spoke against the changes, although some councilors initially questioned why they needed to take effect immediately, as opposed to waiting the 30 days that normal changes need to take effect.
Council Jennifer Hicks defended the immediacy of the changes, arguing that developers could act quickly to get new projects through under the old rules.
“We are reacting to a situation that needs our attention quickly,” Hicks said. “We have heard from many many residents that Brunswick is growing fast, and there are things happening faster than our zoning tools have given us tools to actually address… whether it’s housing or the need for housing or economic development, which is terrific, but there are those side effects.”
