Ad-Hoc Committee on Auburn’s Agriculture and Natural Resource Economy

Study to Support and Enhance Auburn’s Agricultural and Resource Sector

“The City of Auburn values its agricultural heritage, protects the natural beauty of its land, and promotes locally grown food, raising livestock, managing forests and natural resource-based businesses.”

Rural Auburn has a unique Agricultural and Resource Protection (AGRP) zoning district, which has been in place since the early 1960’s that contains over 40% of the city’s land area, or over 20,000 acres. The purpose and intent of the AGRP zoning regulations has been to manage development and to promote food, agricultural, timber and natural resource production and uses. The AGRP zoning regulations have significantly restricted development for the last 50 plus years. Today however, the nature and trends of farming and food production have drastically changed. In response, Auburn desires to strengthen its natural resource-based economy (farming, timber, food businesses, etc) and better integrate this sector into community planning and City-wide priorities. In order to do so, the City requires a better understanding rural land owner needs and goals; the identification of opportunities for additional support and/or investment, and greater understanding of existing barriers and potential solutions and strategies.

The Ad-Hoc Committee on Auburn's Agriculture and Natural Resource was established to serve in an advisory role to the City Council, Planning Board and city staff during the length of the contract term with Crossroads Resource Center (the “consultant”). Committee Members are the primary volunteer liaisons with Crossroads Resource Center and will meet at a time, place and such frequency as the Committee and the consultant deem necessary. Any final report and/or recommendations from the work of the consultant will come to the City Council and/or Planning Board by way of votes of the Committee. The Committee may select a chair or vice-chair, if necessary, and shall determine as a group and with guidance from the consultant the best way to facilitate their meetings. It is expected that the Committee is not the only means of public input and involvement in the study, but they may provide guidance to city staff and the consultant on approaches to public engagement throughout the study period. Any continuation of this Committee beyond the term of the consultant’s contract will be at the discretion of the Mayor at the time or vote of the City Council.

Committee Members 

The following individuals are appointed to serve on the Committee:

Joe Gray, 9 Third Street

David Haines, 384 Butler Hill Road

Mary Sylvester, 208 Maple Hill Road

Karen Bolduc, 310 Sopers Mill Road

David Bell, Bell Farms, Riverside Drive

RitaMae Morin, 150 Sopers Mill Road

Mia Poliquin Pross, 14 Hersey Hill Road

Kim Finnerty, Whiting Farm/JFM, Summer Street

Dan Herrick, 470 Hatch Road

Bill Sylvester, 1128 Riverside Drive

Final Ag Economy Committee Report

Data, Maps & Reports

Final Ag Economy Committee Report

Auburn Economic Data

Consultant Recommendations

Auburn Economic Data PowerPoint Presentation

MAPS: Building Age - Current Use Taxation - Land Cover - Agricultural Soils - Zoning

Agendas with Supporting Documents

May 3, 2018

April 19, 2018 - Farming in Androscoggin County

April 5, 2018 - AG Zoning Use Poll - New AG Use Poll

March 15, 2018 - Building Age Maps - Current Use Taxation Maps - Land Cover Maps - Agricultural Soils Maps - Zoning Maps

February 15, 2018 - Consultant Recommendations

February 1, 2018 - Meeting Memo - Auburn Economic Data PowerPoint Presentation

January 18, 2018

December 7, 2017 - Purpose of Group - Summary of History - Interviews to Date - AG Zoning Excerpts 1 - Comp Plan AG Related Excerpts - November 2017 Meeting Minutes

November 16, 2017

Meeting Minutes

December 7, 2017

Additional Links:   Sun Journal Article Regarding Food Sovereignty  /  AGRP RFP Final with Attachment  /  Crossroads Proposal 2017

Past activities that got us to this point: November 14, 2016

VIEW HISTORIC DOCUMENTS