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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-07 Planning Board Minutes PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF JUNE 7, 2016 MINUTES Board Members Present: John Kenney, Vice Chairman Charles Boothby Chuck LeBlanc, Alternate Pete Parizo Steve Hicks Julie Williams City Staff Present: Peter Witham John Theriault Paul Nicklas David Gould Chairman Kenney called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the absence of Member McCarthy he noted that Alternate Member LeBlanc would be voting. Chairman Kenney noted that he had a potential conflict of interest as he was employed by the design firm who worked on the application for item X. Member Boothby described the item on the Consent Agenda. As no one wished to remove it, he asked for a motion. Ms. Williams moved to approve the Consent Agenda and Ms. McCarthy seconded the motion. The Board voted 6 to 0 in favor of the motion. The item approved is as follows: CONSENT AGENDA Item No.1: Site Location of Development Modification and Site Development Plan to construct a 48,333 square foot outdoor storage area off Polk Street in an Airport Development District (ADD). General Electric, applicant. 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS Item No. 2: Conditional Use and Site Development Plan – 410 Stillwater Avenue – 410 Stillwater Avenue, LLC, applicant. Vice Chairman Boothby opened the Public Hearing and asked for the applicant or their representative to present the item to the Board. Mr. Tim Brochu a surveyor for Civil Engineering Services represented the applicant, 410 Stillwater Avenue, LLC. and indicated that the project was on a 3.75 acre parcel zoned contract Shopping and Personal Service District. Mr. Brochu noted that the building was a three story self-storage facility which had previously been approved, but was never constructed. Mr. Brochu indicated that the applicant applied for a State Stormwater Permit under the Chapter 500 Rules and anticipates that it will be issued soon. Staff Planner Witham noted that the most recent submission addressed most of the issues raised by Staff. As no one in the audience spoke either in favor of or in opposition to the request, Vice Chairman Boothby closed the Public Hearing. Ms. McCarthy asked if Mr. Brochu could explain how the proposed three-story big box building would fit with the smaller single-family homes which abut it. Mr. Brochu noted that the architect has yet to finalize the design but was using architectural elements to break up the façade of the building. In addition, landscape materials may help soften the appearance of the large box–like building. Ms. McCarthy moved to approve the Conditional Use and Site Development Plan for 410 Stillwater Avenue. Mr. Hicks seconded the motion, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Conditional Use and Site Development Plan for 410 Stillwater Avenue, to construct a 3-story 64,000 square foot self-storage facility at 410 Stillwater Avenue. Item No. 3: Conditional Use Permit – 26 State Street – Orono Brewing Company, applicant. Vice Chairman Boothby opened the Public Hearing and asked for the applicant or their representative to present the item to the Board. 3 Mr. Abe Furth, the applicant, indicated that he operated a similar facility in Orono and it had been well received. The proposal for State Street is a smaller operation. The permitting from the State allows them to conduct retail sales of “growlers” and provide “samples” to customers. As no one in the audience spoke either in favor of or in opposition to the request, Vice Chairman Boothby closed the Public Hearing and asked for Staff comments. Planner Witham noted that the applicant updated the hours of operation for Sunday to be consistent with the provisions of the DDD zone. Mr. Witham indicated that the DDD zone has specific requirements that need to be met for conditional use approval. In addition the application must meet the Conditional Use standards of 165-9. Mr. Hicks inquired about the amount of brewing which would occur at this site. Mr. Furth noted that most of the beer would come from Orono, but they may try some experimental aging in the basement of the building which would be a much smaller operation than Orono. Ms. McCarthy made a motion to approve the Conditional Use and Site Development Plan for 26 State Street. Ms. Williams seconded the motion and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Conditional Use and Site Development Plan to operate a Bar Tavern or Lounge at 26 State Street for the Orono Brewing Company with the conditions outlined in the Staff Memorandum. Item No. 4: Amending the Land Development Code, Chapter 165, Section 165-31 – Temporary Vendors. City of Bangor, applicant. C.O. #16-185. Vice Chairman Boothby opened the Public Hearing and requested the City provide the Board with the background on this amendment. Assistant City Solicitor Paul Nicklas explained that this amendment will make some minor changes to the Restrictions on Temporary Sales of Food or Merchandise in the Waterfront Development District. The changes will allow up to 5 vendors instead of 4; extend the hours of operation from 10 p.m. to midnight to coincide with the events that are held on the waterfront, and make some other minor housekeeping elements within the Ordinance. Mr. Hicks asked what the size limit was for vendor space and noted that the vendors that are presently located in the Waterfront Development District appear to be using more space that allowed within the ordinance. Tracy Willette, Director of Parks and Recreation, indicated that it could be that vendors are utilizing more area with tables. He indicated that he would take a look at this. 4 No one from the audience spoke either in favor of or in opposition to this amendment request. Ms. Williams moved to recommend to the City Council that the ordinance amendment as contained in C.O. #16-185 to amend the Restriction on Temporary Sales of Food or Merchandise be approved. The motion was seconded by Ms. McCarthy. The Board voted 6 to 0 in favor of the motion to recommend approval. NEW BUSINESS Item No. 5: Site Development Plan – 1070 Hammond Street – Amerco Real Estate Company Vice Chair Boothby asked for the applicant or their representative to present the item to the Board. Mr. Silas Canavan, Walsh Engineering, indicated they represented Amerco, better known as U-Haul. Mr. Canavan reviewed the project location at Hammond Street and Odlin Road noting that there were two existing buildings and one new proposed 34,000 square foot storage building. Part of the building would house storage pods which are transported to people’s sites and stored at the building. He noted that there are four existing drives at the site, the drive from Hammond Street will be designated as right-in and right-out as it is a poor location for left hand turns. The next drive near the intersection is a right-out and in. This is a driveway which the City Engineer has some concern with. Mr. John Theriault, PE, City Engineer noted that he has concerns that this driveway may be hazardous. He requested as a condition of approval that if it can be demonstrated that this drive has been associated with three or more crashes in any twelve month period then it shall be removed at the owner’s expense. Mr. Canavan indicated his client is agreeable with that condition. The next drive on Odlin road is a full access driveway and the last drive is an entrance only. Mr. Canavan reviewed parking, outdoor storage and landscape buffers for the Board. He noted that there is some State and Federal permitting required. A Maine Stormwater Permit is required and an Army Corp of Engineers Permit is required due to the wetland filling. Vice Chairman Boothby asked for Staff Comments. Planner Witham indicated that this was the former Bacon Printing site. The proposed project will make a number of improvements to the site including access management, landscape buffers and stormwater management. 5 Mr. Parizo indicated that his employer is working on this project and must disclose he has a potential conflict of interest. Mr. Hicks made a motion that Member Parizo has a conflict of interest. Ms. McCarthy seconded the motion and the remaining Board members voted unanimously that Mr. Parizo be excused. Ms. Williams made a motion to approve the Site Development Plan for Amerco Real Estate with the condition that if the Odlin Road driveway contributes to three or more crashes in any twelve month period then the applicant shall remove the driveway at their expense. Ms. McCarthy seconded the motion and the Board voted 5 in favor and none opposed to grant approval. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Boothby called for a motion on the May 3,2016 Minutes. Ms. rd McCarthy moved approval of the Minutes of May 3. Ms. Williams seconded the motion and the Board approved the Minutes unanimously. The Board adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m.