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PHOTO: The Androscoggin County Commission decision to buy the 6.5-acre plot at 774 Center St. in Auburn has spurred city staff to ask the city council for a development moratorium on publi safety proposals. (Boulos Co. photo)
AUBURN – Responding to a recent announcement by Androscoggin County Commissioners, the city is seeking a moratorium regarding plans to acquire property within the city to expand or relocate the sheriff’s department and county jail. The moratorium would focus on public safety, detention and correctional facilities.
City staff will ask the city council at its Tuesday, Feb. 22, meeting to declare a moratorium on development proposals involving public safety, detention or correctional facilities at a site on which one currently does not exist.
City leaders believe a moratorium is needed to address concerns current ordinances governing land use, zoning, site plan review and special exception review do not adequately or specifically address regarding public safety, detention or correctional facilities.
“There should be no doubt that public safety is among the city’s highest priorities,” said City Manager Phil Crowell, who retired from the Auburn Police Department in 2018 after 25 years, the last 12 as chief of police. “The services provided by the county jail, sheriff’s office and county 911 dispatch must meet the needs of the entire county, including Auburn.”
The city’s position is that the development of new or additional public safety facilities, detention facilities or correctional facilities could pose a serious threat to the public health, safety and welfare of the residents and businesses abutting — or in close proximity -—to such facilities without adequately planning for issues of public safety, health, land use compatibility, noise, visual degradation and environmental degradation.
The Androscoggin County Commission recently voted to buy the former Evergreen Subaru property, 774 Center St. to house the sheriff’s department and county jail. The county would pay $4.5 million for the property, which is on 6.54 acres.
