CAMDEN, Maine — The potential sale of two downtown commercial buildings and the possibility that the upper floors would be converted to residences has caused a stir among town officials who fear the loss of spaces for businesses.
But the owner of the properties appeared before the board Tuesday night to say that if such a sale and conversion occurred it would benefit other downtown businesses.
Matthew Orne said there is a trend across the country of people wanting to live closer to downtown so that they can walk to shops, doctors’ offices or the Opera House.
“It seems odd that Camden would want to go against that trend,” Orne said.
Orne owns two buildings on Mechanic Street that had been part of the former Knox Woolen Mill that have since been converted into office space.
At a select board meeting last week, some select board members discussed whether they should enact a moratorium or pass retroactive zoning to prevent the conversion of upper floors in the buildings to residences. Current zoning requires commercial establishments on the ground floors but allows residences on the upper floors.
“I’m pretty offended at what happened last week without the courtesy of speaking to me,” Orne told the board. He said they all know him but no one contacted him to ask him to appear at the meeting.
He said such talk discourages people from doing business in Camden.
Board member Leonard Lookner apologized for bringing the subject up without contacting Orne and allowing him the opportunity to attend.
“The thought of losing incubation spaces for businesses may have caused the hysteria,” Lookner said.
Orne said the properties are under contract. This includes a parking lot in the rear of the properties. He said he does not know the specific plans of the potential new owners whom he did not identify. He said, however, he believes some residential conversion is possible. Orne said if he were to keep the property he would do the same because that would provide the capital needed to maintain the former mill properties.
Since he purchased the properties, Orne said he he has replaced the roof, the boiler, the windows and has spent $240,000 restoring the smokestack.
The Camden businessman said there are more vacant upper-floor downtown commercial spaces available near his properties than what would be lost if his upper floors were converted for residential use.
Select Board member John French said he felt that some board members were treading on private property rights with their talks last week about enacting a moratorium or retroactive zoning.
Loonker responded that French’s statement sounded like an election season comment.
Lookner and French are both seeking re-election to the board. There are five candidates vying for the seats.
At the end of the meeting, the board agreed to hold a workshop between the select board and planning board in three weeks to discuss any deficiencies in current business zones. Board members said that any any changes would be long down the road and not affect the Orne project.
Lookner said keeping commercial properties downtown is important to make Camden a vibrant year-round community.