ELIOT, Maine — Jane McDonnell is determined to build a home in Eliot, but with just eight single family permits available this year she got in line two days early.
“This will be our retirement home. We spent our whole life savings on this property,” McDonnell said. “So we’re not taking any chances.”
At 6:30 a.m. last Friday the town of Eliot started accepting applications for growth permits.
According to Eliot Town Manager Dana Lee, a growth permit is like a reservation to build and this year there are only eight single family, eight subdivision and two affordable housing unit permits available.
In November voters narrowly defeated a measure to change the growth ordinance that would have allowed more development.
Without that change the number of permits could continue to dwindle.
The formula uses a 10-year average and takes into account the recession years when building was almost non-existent.
McDonnell said she learned about the growth permit requirement and shortage of permits while shopping for a parcel to build on.
They have been renting in Kittery since last March after selling their home in Massachusetts. McDonnell said they found the Eliot property in September and knew they had to wait until the following year to get a growth permit.
“The reason we are here so early is because we heard through the grapevine that someone was going to try and take a whole bunch of growth permits,” McDonnell said. “So we came out Wednesday morning with our builder and we’ve been taking four hour shifts and sitting here ever since.”
McDonnell is working with a builder from Eliot. Doug Degrappo lives in Eliot.
“His kids go to school here. He would like to work in this town,” McDonnell said. “But he’s been working in other towns because it’s been hard to get work here,”
According to the Eliot town website: “Applicants in line at the Town Office on January 2, 2015 will be given a number as they enter the building. Applicants will be called into the Code Enforcement Office in numerical order. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received.”
All growth permit applications must be include a plot plan and proof of ownership.
The posted rules also read that a property owner can send a representative to submit the growth permit application provided they have written authorization.
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