The town’s Ordinance Committee met on Monday, Jan. 12, with all three members (committee chair Seven Siegel, Lou Simms, and Kelly Dearborn) in attendance. The following business was addressed:

Amending the fire suppression systems ordinance to allow for one- and two-family unit exemptions based on minimum lot size and distance from fire suppression water sources (referred by the Town Council on Oct. 7, 2025): A motion was passed to bring updates to the existing fire suppression ordinance, adding an exemption for gift lots for one- and two-family dwelling units, to the February Town Council meeting for review (3 Ayes).
Review of Gorham’s wastewater ordinance to allow for private clustered wastewater systems (referred by Town Council on Jan. 2, 2024): A motion was passed to send the item back to the Town Council with a recommendation for no action (3 Ayes).

Review of a proposed University District for the parcels occupied by the University of Southern Maine (referred by Town Council on Sept. 3, 2024): Discussed.

The committee plans to continue to discuss the fire suppression ordinance and University District proposal at the next meeting, as well as potentially reviewing form-based code and the restriction of large-scale data centers, pending staff updates.
Complete Ordinance Committee agendas and minutes can be accessed at https://www.gorhammaine.gov/ordinance-committee