NEW VINEYARD — Voters in New Vineyard will be asked to act on a revised amendment to the shoreland zoning ordinance as well as on a wind energy facility moratorium ordinance at a special town meeting on March 13 at 9:30 a.m. at the New Vineyard Community Building.

According to planning board member Richard Hargreaves, the voters will be asked to act upon the proposed amendments to the 1992 New Vineyard Zoning Ordinance. At the June 2009 town meeting the residents rejected the proposed amendment through a vote of 33 to 21, said Hargreaves. Therefore, he added, the existing New Vineyard Shoreland Zoning Ordinance adopted by the town in 1992 has remained in effect.

The planning board concluded that the outcome of the June 2009 vote was reflective of the convictions of some of the residents that the restrictions imposed on them by the 1992 ordinance are not reflective of current attitudes. The Revised Amended Shoreland Zoning Ordinance being brought before the voters on March 13 has been prepared using the Department of Environmental Protection guidelines, ensuring that New Vineyard’s ordinance follows current State minimum regulations, said Hargreaves.

Copies of the revised Ordinance and copies of the State guidelines will be available at the town office prior to the meeting.

Voters will also be asked to act on a Commercial Wind Energy Facility Moratorium Ordinance. This ordinance is not intended to prevent development in New Vineyard, but such an ordinance would allow the planning board, the selectmen and all citi- zens time to develop a Commercial Wind Energy ordinance, said Hargreaves.

Adoption of such an ordinance would give the town the opportunity to develop an ordinance before there is an actual wind facility proposal in the works, said Hargreaves. As of now the town has no wind energy review authority. During the 180-day life of the moratorium no activities relating to wind energy facility development would be allowed.

Anyone with additional questions may call Hargreaves at 652-2366 for more information.