Eleven Edgecomb residents discussed the proposed floating house moratorium March 13 for 35 minutes. Town officials held the public hearing two weeks prior to a special town meeting.

Selectmen scheduled the 7 p.m., March 27 special town meeting in response to the planning board’s and ordinance review committee’s concerns about a lack of local and state ordinances on floating houses. In recent months, the planning board has received two inquiries about floating houses. According to Planning Board Chairman Jack French, one came from a woman about housing her grandchildren on a boat. The second came form a resident considering using floating houses as summer rentals.

If voters approve the six-month moratorium, the planning board and ORC would draft regulations on location, number of guests, safety and emergency procedures, and water and sewer connections.

“This is something we need time to consider. There is nothing under Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers or DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) guidelines regulating this. So this is why we requested a moratorium,” French said.

Several residents spoke in favor of a moratorium. None spoke in opposition. Resident Steve Durrell volunteered his 37 years’ experience as an engineer to serve as a consultant on an ordinance. Durrell works at Prock Marine Company in Rockland. “I urge the selectmen and planning board to study this issue carefully. There are a lot of ramifications especially in a rental situation. There are many issues to address  and I hope you work really hard on this,” said Durrell.