Permitting, Planning & Licensing

Planning

If your project requires expanding an existing building, altering land use, or new construction, you will need to discuss this project with the Planning and Developing Department.  Beth and Molly stand ready to assist you with any questions you might have.  Usually, this starts with a pre-application meeting, where Planning will assemble various staff members to help you understand what to do next.  Below, is the protocol for a pre-application meeting to discuss the aspects of your project.  

STEP ONE:  INSTRUCTIONS FOR “PRE-APPLICATION” MEETING WITH THE PLANNING DEPT.

(These instructions are for a zoom meeting until face-to-face meetings are authorized.)

Please submit to jlbabcock@sanfordmaine.org  prior to the setting up of a pre-application meeting:

• Name, email address, and phone number of applicant or consultant serving as a point of contact, as well as for all individuals who will take part in the teleconferenced pre-application meeting.
• Two GIS maps – one of the sites using the “2017 aerial base map” and one of the general vicinity of the site so it can be determined where the property is, and what roads and developments are near it. This is easily done on the City of Sanford GIS Mapping Service. Instructions about how to create these maps can be found here: City of Sanford Maine Planning
• For Design Review and very small-scale projects, a drawing of the proposed improvements on the 2017 aerial base map of the site as accessed from Sanford GIS (unless using a professionally prepared, conceptual site/subdivision plan).
• For Site Plans or Subdivision Plans, a professionally-prepared concept plan, which generally lays out the proposed improvements, must be provided.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Planning Department at (207) 324-9150

Once the Planning Dept. receives and determines the adequacy of the submitted information, they will contact you to schedule the pre-application meeting and share instructions for the remote meeting/teleconference. That’s it! The first step accomplished!

You will find out nearly everything you need to know in the pre-application meeting.  You will know the type of project, and level of review needed to turn your vision into reality.  If a full application is needed, you will find the pre-application meeting and the instructions below helpful to keep the process going.  Except for some projects, that require multiple steps at the local level and/or additional involvement within the state and federal levels, your project should only take about 4 (+ -) weeks to complete.  This will, of course, rely on you submitting a completed application.

STEP TWO (if determined in the pre-app meeting): 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF “FULL APPLICATION” 

Here is the information you need to submit by mail for a development review application. Mail three hard copies and a CD or thumb drive including pdf files for all submission materials to: Molly Kirchoff, Planning Department, 919 Main St, Sanford ME  04073

• Completed application form with signatures and date (the project will be classified by the Planning Department at the pre-application meeting)
• Completed checklist associated with the specific review – to be sure your project is not held up, please do not respond “NA” for any application submission requirement; if you believe that a submission requirement does not apply to your project, check “request for waiver” on the form and explain why you believe the requested waiver is justified (i.e., there are no existing buildings on the site; existing public water extends to the site and no changes are proposed; etc.)
• Set of plans and all supporting documentation which includes submission requirements listed in the checklist – collated and bound
• Check for Application Fee (fee will be set at the pre-application meeting)
• Abutters list  (abutter material available on the Sanford GIS, once on GIS site, click search, type in property info, click abutters right under the search button, then select abutter’s list or mailing labels)

Measure twice; cut once! Submit a complete application and staff will process your material for the level of review that was decided in your pre-application meeting.  You will be contacted after that process.