HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-16 Planning Board Minutes
PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF BANGOR
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
MINUTES
Board Members Present: Nathaniel Rosenblatt, Vice Chairman
Miles Theeman
Laura Mitchell
Jeff Barnes
Doug Damon
City Staff Present: David Gould
Bud Knickerbocker
Lynn Johnson
News Media Present: None
Vice Chairman Rosenblatt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
As no one wished to remove the item from the Consent Agenda, Vice Chairman
Rosenblatt asked for a motion. Mr. Theeman moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mr.
Barnes seconded the motion, which carried by a vote of 5 to 0.
Item No. 1: Site Development Plan approval to construct a 12,140 square
foot addition for large electric motor repair and reconstruction
use at 40 Target Industrial Circle in an Industry and Service
District. AC Real Estate, LLC, applicant.
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NEW BUSINESS
Item No. 2: Site Development Plan approval to construct 30 additional
parking spaces, walkways, and to reconstruct and pave an
existing parking lot at 656 State Street in a Government and
Institutional Service District. State of Maine, Dorothea Dix
Psychiatric Center, applicant.
Vice Chairman Rosenblatt indicated that because there were only five members
present the application would need four affirmative votes for approval. He asked the
applicant’s agent if they wished to proceed or continue this item to the Board’s next meeting.
Mr. John Theriault with Ames A/E, representing the applicant indicated that they wished to
proceed.
Mr. Theriault explained that the plan before the Board is for a parking lot expansion at
the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center. They are proposing 30 additional spaces in front of the
main entrance to the Center. This parking would be used primarily when there is training or
an event at the facility. Presently, when they have training at the facility cars line the sides
of the roadway in front of the facility which reduces the overall width of the roadway. In the
wintertime it reduces it even further. Mr. Theriault noted that other designs were developed
but this one afforded the least amount of impact and affected the least amount of green
space while providing the most parking. The project will create approximately 8,000 sq. ft. of
impervious ground cover and also includes paving an existing parking lot on the site. Mr.
Theriault indicated that he spoke with DEP and was informed that they did not need a
Stormwater Permit for this project. Noting that the Planning Staff did not endorse this design
Mr. Theriault indicated that he felt that this is a very low volume driveway and the proposed
parking along that drive provides an alternative that is better than the existing condition and
is a safer alternative than what exists now.
Mr. Damon asked where the stormwater runoff goes. Mr. Theriault indicated that it
will go to the same place it went before.
Mr. Theeman asked about the Planning Staff’s concern regarding the need for a
SLODA permit for this site. Planning Officer Gould indicated that it is the responsibility of the
applicant to make sure that they comply with the applicable rules. Mr. Theeman asked if the
Board should request a letter from DEP indicating whether or not a SLODA permit is needed
before the Board votes on this application. Mr. Gould indicated that Staff will write the
responsible parties at the State of Maine informing them of this concern. Mr. Gould noted
that there have been many uses on the campus that have moved to other locations on-site
and Staff has no idea what the parking demand and supply is or the amount of impervious is
on the site. Staff will request that an analysis be done. Once this information is available
and it is determined that they need a DEP Site Location of Development Act Permit they will
need to get an after-the-fact Permit. Mr. Gould indicated that by pointing this out it was not
Staff’s intention to hold this application hostage while waiting for an answer. However, Staff
would like to get this documented into the record that this is something that the State needs
to look into.
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Vice Chairman Rosenblatt asked for the Staff report. Planning Officer Gould indicated
that what is under consideration is only a small area of the larger State complex which
includes numerous State offices around the campus. Mr. Gould noted that it presently is a
very beautiful campus and the State should be commended for its pedestrian access to
parking lots from the buildings with sidewalks. Mr. Gould indicated that Staff does have
concerns with the proposed 90 degree parking on an access road. Staff feels this is a bad
practice to undertake and it would be better to add parking in a parking lot. Because of this
Staff does not endorse this and urges the applicant to look at another arrangement to add
those parking spaces. Mr. Gould indicated that the Board needed to evaluate the standards
in Section 165-114 and determine whether or not they think that the arrangement is going to
create a bad situation on that access drive.
Mr. Barnes felt that the additional parking would be eliminating a hazard.
Mr. Theriault added that head-in parking is not uncommon. Because it is not on a
roadway he said that he was not concerned from a traffic engineering standpoint. Mr.
Theriault indicated that this is a much safer alternative and in order to achieve this number
of parking spaces it would be necessary to have parallel parking on both sides of the road
which is not desirable. The applicant asked that they provide the largest number of spaces
with a minimum amount of disturbance. Mr. Theriault informed the applicant that Staff did
not endorse this and the applicant expressed the desire to go forward with this design and if
denied they would keep things the way they are.
Mr. Damon indicated that he felt that this is a driveway and not a public roadway
which would be similar to backing out into the street. Mr. Damon said that this proposal
does get the cars off the road and he felt that it would be a safety improvement.
There being no further comments, Vice Chairman Rosenblatt asked for a motion. Mr.
Theeman moved that the Board grant Site Development Plan approval at 656 State Street,
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, State of Maine, applicant, to construct 30 additional parking
spaces, walkways, and to reconstruct and pave an existing parking lot at 656 State Street in
a Government and Institutional Service District. Mr. Barnes seconded the motion. The Board
voted four in favor and one opposed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Item No. 3: Planning Board Approval of Minutes.
Vice Chairman Rosenblatt noted that the Minutes of the June 3, and June 17, 2008
Meetings were in order for approval. Mr. Theeman moved that the Board approve both sets
of Minutes. Ms. Mitchell seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
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Other Business
Planning Officer Gould noted that the Planning Office had received word that day that
Eastern Maine Medical Center had received their State Site Location of Development
Modification Permit for construction of the parking garage. In other business, Mr. Gould
indicated that the Special Committee on Comprehensive Planning would be holding its first
meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
There being no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.