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Talk to your friends and neighbors about why FHRE's latest legal maneuvering will harm our neighborhoods. Write a Letter Courier-Gazette Camden Herald Pen Bay Pilot Bangor Daily News The Free Press Join Our Coalition Join our coalition of Camden citizens opposed to the rezoning Fox Hill by clicking here |
State-wide Implications
On February 2nd, the Camden Select Board declined Fox Hill Real Estate’s request to place a rehab facility at Fox Hill. On February 25th, Fox Hill Real Estate publicly announced plans to forge ahead with their commercial enterprise. They say that they can move forward without town approval.
But FHRE still want to shoehorn a 24/7 business into a residential zone that prohibits it. This is the same tactic that the Dunes in East Hampton, New York used to open a full-service rehab facility. After having been turned down repeatedly by the town, they changed their model to a Community Living Arrangement (CLA) for 8 residents. Today they run a full-scale inpatient and outpatient rehab center in a residential neighborhood. Sound familiar? We don't believe FHRE has found a “compromise.” We do believe they are circumventing local zoning and oversight in an end-run around the Camden voters. There is no legal precedent in the state of Maine for a rehab facility claiming CLA status. And so we have more questions than answers. Also, this issue is now a state wide concern; If FHRE is allowed to define themselves as a CLA, then can't any commercial facility serving a protected class claim to be a CLA and open a business in a residential area? So what has really changed in FHRE’s plans for Fox Hill? Nothing that we can see. Read coverage of FHRE's announcement: Article Listen to MPBN's coverage of the Select Board's vote: MPBN News Watch a video of the Select Board meeting: Town Hall Streams View the extent of FHRE's requested zoning changes: Proposed Changes.pdf Read the judge's decision to overturn a Portland rezone vote: Press Herald • Court Order |