CAPE ELIZABETH – Long-running issues in Cape Elizabeth concerning code enforcement and so-called “short-term rental” homes, both of which consumed much of 2012, have cropped up in 2013 in an unlikely place – summer camps.
According to Town Councilor David Sherman, it has been a tradition of many years in Cape Elizabeth for teenagers to run “limited summer camps” in town.
Citing “a dozen or more over the years,” Sherman said these camps “offer entertainment and camaraderie” to small groups of youngsters.
“It’s always seemed like a good way for them [teens] to make some money and promote community spirit at the same time,” he said, “but due to a decision by Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Smith, they are no longer permitted.”
According to Town Manager Michael McGovern, Smith may have been caught in the crossfire over the short-term rental issue. At the center of that storm was a home at 5 Sea Barn Road owned by the estate of David Ginn.
Starting two years ago, neighbors began to complain about the noise and crowds whipped up by people to whom the owners rented the house. Those complaints led to new ordinances passed earlier this year that severely curtail the number of people who can rent a home, as well as the number of visitors they may have at one time.
But last summer, while debate was still running hot, the property owner turned the tables by complaining about a nearby teen-run neighborhood camps.
“Basically, they complained about the neighbor next door who was complaining about them,” said McGovern at the Feb. 11 Town Council meeting.
“Perhaps, to be less charitable, he might have complained in retaliation,” said Sherman.
At any rate, once he had a complaint in hand, Smith was bound to act on it and concluded the “camps” were a commercial enterprise not allowed in Cape Elizabeth’s residential zones. So, he ordered them shut down.
McGovern placed Smith placed on administrative leave a short time later, in October. Smith then resigned a month after that. Although the town manager never said why the disciplinary action was taken, it is presumed to have centered on other, unrelated issues that now have the town fighting three separate sits in Superior Court.
Sherman said he envisions a limit on the number of children the camps would allow – “We’re not talking 50 here,” he said – and that they should operate “with consideration to neighbors.”
“It seemed to me to make sense to move this forward to allow this as a permitted use in time for the summer, if that is the will of the council,” he said.
The council voted unanimously to refer the summer camps issue to the Planning Board for possible revision of town zoning regulations. The board will take up the referral at its Feb. 25 meeting and will most likely schedule a workshop session and a public hearing before reporting a recommendation back to the council. The council may then re-refer the question to the ordinance committee before holding its own public hearing and taking action.
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