Adoption. A map entitled "City of Saco, Zoning Map" and dated December 2, 2020[1] is hereby adopted as part of this chapter and hereafter shall be referred to as the "Official Zoning Map."

Exceptions. The Official Zoning Map shall be the final authority as to the boundaries of zoning districts, except in regard to the Shoreland Zoning Overlay Districts, which are more particularly described in Article VIII herein.

Copies of the Zoning Map. Representative maps which may be appended to this chapter are for reference only and shall not be construed to be the Official Zoning Map.

Uncertainty of boundaries. Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the various districts as shown on the Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:

The district boundaries located on the Zoning Map represent the City of Saco's ordinance. In addition, areas along the Saco River are also governed by the Saco River Corridor Commission. Separate, and in some cases more restrictive, regulations exist for this area and must be consulted when development is contemplated.

Division of lots by district boundaries. Where a zoning district boundary line divides a lot, the regulations applicable to either lot may be extended up to 100 feet into the other lot.

Saco River Corridor. The Saco River Corridor Commission has been established by the Maine Legislature to regulate development within in the Saco River Corridor. The Saco River Corridor includes all lands adjacent to the Saco River to a distance of 500 feet, as measured on a horizontal plane, from the mean high-water line of the river or to the edge of the 100-year floodplain if the floodplain extends beyond 500 feet, up to a maximum of 1,000 feet.

Activities within the Saco River Corridor are subject to the jurisdiction of both the City of Saco and the Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC). Construction, development, and some other activities require approval from both the City and the Corridor Commission. Refer to Title 38 M.R.S.A §§ 951 through 969 for Saco River Corridor Act, and contact the Saco River Corridor Commission for applicable performance standards.

Activities within the Saco River Corridor must conform to the applicable City regulations as well as to the Commission's regulations.

To coordinate the review and permitting process, applicants or potential applicants should first determine if the proposed activity is allowed under the City's regulations. The applicant should then obtain a permit for the activity from the Saco River Corridor Commission. Once the SRCC permit has been obtained, the applicant should apply for City permits or approvals needed for the project. Obtaining a permit from the SRCC does not absolve the applicant of the requirement to obtain City permits and approvals.

Blast furnace, metal or ore reduction or smelting.

Coke manufacturing.

Petroleum refining.

Animal rendering plants.

Nuclear power production facilities.

Industries with high-level radiation hazards.

Nuclear waste disposal.

Petroleum and petroleum product tank farms.

Ammonia, chlorine manufacturing, or the refining of hydrochloric, nitric, picric, sulfuric, sulphurous or similar acid manufacturing.

Permitted and conditional uses in residential, business, mixed use, and industrial districts are listed in Table 3-3.

Permitted and conditional uses in the Resource Protection Overlay District are included in Table 3-4.

Refer to Articles IV and VI for general standards for all uses. Additional performance standards for specific uses are found in Article VII, as well as the Site Plan Review Ordinance.[2] Standards for uses in Shoreland Zoning Overlay Districts can be found in Article VIII.