CHINA -- Planning Board members are moving toward presenting voters with more ordinance amendments in 2010, in addition to proposals on this November's local ballot.

Tuesday's meeting covered two topics: proposed amendments to the section of the current ordinance dealing with signs, and addition of a new section requiring low-impact development techniques.

Chris Huck, planning director at the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, led the discussion of a revised sign ordinance, pointing out the many choices to be made -- not only how many signs a business can have and how big they can be, but also, for example, whether to allow more signs for bigger businesses (and if so, whether size is defined by road frontage, building size or some other measure), and whether to allow flashing lights or moving parts.

The permitting process requires another set of decisions, he said: whether the code enforcement officer or the Planning Board issues permits, whether permits are needed for all signs or whether to exempt, for example, temporary signs (requiring a definition of "temporary") or real estate signs.

China Codes Officer Scott Pierz has given board members samples of other towns' sign ordinances.

South China market owner Thadius Barber offered more examples and assistance from his sign consultant.

Board member James Wilkens; his wife, Shari; and China Dine-ah owner Norm Elvin said the most important factor is the aesthetic effect on visitors and residents.

Aesthetics, Huck said, are hard to put into an ordinance. What one person considers attractive another considers an eyesore, he said. Board members agreed that Huck should prepare a draft ordinance outlining possibilities. They talked of having at least one more workshop session among themselves before inviting additional public comment.

Fred Snow, community planner with Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, brought a three-page draft describing low-impact development requirements and measures. He proposed that it be added to stormwater management provisions in China's ordinance

The draft makes reference to a September 2007 manual for Maine communities that sets standards and offers ways to meet them.

The goal of low-impact development is to prevent construction from increasing the amount of stormwater running off a property and potentially adding unneeded nutrients or pollutants to water bodies.

Main methods of control are natural barriers, such as buffers planted with shrubs and trees, which both retain runoff and improve the appearance and value of the property, Snow said.

Snow estimated that if voters added the draft requirements to China's Land Development Code, increased costs to property owners would range from none to a few hundred dollars, depending on the size and project type.

In some cases, he said, low-impact techniques reduce construction costs -- for example, by limiting clearing.

Jim Hart from the Kennebec Water District said no other Maine town has adopted the low-impact development standards. He would like to see China be the first, to increase protection of China Lake, the district's source of drinking water.

Neither idea discussed Tuesday is on a ballot in 2009.

However, on Nov. 3 China voters will accept or reject two ordinance changes the Planning Board reviewed and recommended: amendments to shoreland zoning to align town requirements with state standards and a revised floodplain-management ordinance.

Also on the ballot is a proposed obscenity ordinance.

In Nov. 3 local elections, Wilkens is unopposed for re-election to the Planning Board from District 1 (northwestern China); Ronald Breton is unopposed to succeed Scott McCormac as the alternate member, elected townwide; and no candidate is on the ballot to succeed Blaine Bronson from District 3 (southeastern China).