Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-17 Planning Board Minutes PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF JULY 17, 2007 MINUTES Board Members Present: Robert Guerette, Chairman Miles Theeman Laura Mitchell Nathaniel Rosenblatt David Clark City Staff Present: David Gould James Ring Peter Witham Bud Knickerbocker News Media Present: Bangor Daily News Chairman Guerette called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA As no one wished to remove the item for discussion, Chairman Guerette asked for a motion. Mr. Theeman moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Ms. Mitchell seconded the motion which carried unanimously. The item approved is as follows: Item No. 1: Site Location of Development Act Modification approval to replace 14 light poles and add 4 light poles at One College Circle in a Government and Institutional Service District. Husson College, applicant. NEW BUSINESS Item No. 2: Site Development Plan approval for parking lot improvements at the existing operations center at 19 Maine Avenue in a Technology and Service District. Bangor Savings Bank, applicant. 2 Chairman Guerette asked for a presentation by the applicant or their designee. Mr. John Kenney, WBRC, represented the applicant, who is requesting Site Development Plan approval for parking lot improvements at their operations center at the corner of Maine Avenue and Hammond Street. Mr. Kenney explained that the applicant would like to add a 38-space parking lot on the Corporate Drive side of the lot and expand the existing parking lot by adding 19 spaces. Other improvements proposed include an improved entrance area with landscaping, and reconstruction of the parking lot on the Hammond Street site. They are also proposing to move an island to improve maneuverability. Chairman Guerette asked if in the expansion of the existing lot to the north of the parking lot if the three small islands would be removed and if they would be eliminating any parking. Mr. Kenny indicated that the islands would remain as they are and some parking spaces would be eliminated. Chairman Guerette asked for the Planning Officer’s report. Planning Officer Gould indicated that this site is located in the Technology and Service District. The Bangor Savings Bank’s Operation Center was originally approved in 1992. The applicant submitted revised plans addressing staff concerns which meet Ordinance requirements and Staff recommended approval. Mr. Rosenblatt moved that the Board grant Site Development Plan approval to the proposed development at 19 Maine Avenue, Bangor Savings, Bank, applicant. Mr. Theeman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Item No. 3: Developmental Subdivision plan approval for an approved Site Development Plan for twenty-four (24) condominium units within four (4) sixplexes located at 21V Bomarc Road in a Low Density Residential District. Woods of Maine, applicant. Mr. Don Becker, CES, Inc., representing the applicant, indicated that this project received Site Location of Development approval and Site Development Plan approval from the Planning Board. Another step needed in the process is to obtain subdivision approval. Mr. Becker indicated that these units will be sold as condominium units. The typical process under State rule is that the buildings be built first so that the boundaries are based on the actual buildings constructed prior to final condominium documents and plans. Mr. Rosenblatt indicated that he voted against this project previously because he was concerned about the lot configuration, and that he still has that concern. He noted that the plan submitted does not show pins at the corners of the property and he asked Mr. Becker to explain. Mr. Becker indicated that they had not planned to set all of the pins because they planned to monument it later and they wanted to delay the expense. Mr. Becker said that the plan as proposed does meet the standards and would be accepted by the Registry of Deeds. However, they would be willing to consider monumenting those corners if the Board deemed it necessary because they plan to set them within the next year. This short term plan will be replaced with another plan when the applicant comes in for the last phase of this 3 development. Mr. Rosenblatt indicated that if it is not marked on the ground no one is going to know where the open space is unless there is a path within the boundaries that are laid on the plan. He asked what their plans were in terms of implementing the open space proposal. Mr. Becker indicated that the parcel is marked so it is not difficult to see where it is. They have no objection to a condition that they put the corner pins in because they are going to have a plan in a few months that will show where those corners are going to be. Chairman Guerette asked for the Planning Officer’s report. Planning Officer Gould indicated that this application is for developmental subdivision approval which is a subdivision by the nature of the number of units and buildings that are going to be built. It is Staff’s understanding that the applicant intends to actually sell the units off as individual condominiums. This is a straight forward application and is basically the same plan that the Board granted conditional use and site development plan approval of. Staff had a similar concern that there is no monumentation of the proposed trailway. The City’s surveyor indicated that by law it is up to a property owner to decide whether or not they want to put pins in. Staff pointed out that it is a typical practice of the Board that if there is some kind of a Planned Group Development or a condominium document that goes with a plat, that the applicant submit a copy of an executed document as a standard condition of approval. Mr. Gould indicated that this is the same plan as approved before and Staff recommended approval with the condition that a copy of the signed condominium agreement be submitted. Mr. Rosenblatt moved that the Board grant Development Subdivision Plan approval at 21V Bomarc Road, Woods of Maine, applicant, on the following two conditions: 1) that pins be set at the corners of the property; and 2) the applicant submit a copy of the executed condominium homeowner’s association agreement to the City. Mr. Theeman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Item No. 4: Planning Board Approval of Minutes Chairman Guerette indicated that the minutes of the April 17, 2007 meeting were in order for approval. Mr. Rosenblatt moved that the Board approve the Minutes of the April 17, 2007 meeting. Ms. Mitchell seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Other Business Chairman Guerette noted that a Special Meeting of the Planning Board has been scheduled for July 18, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. at Judson Heights. Also noted was the Board’s workshop meeting scheduled for July 31, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Guerette discussed the request to reconsider an item at the Board’s last meeting (the Conditional Use and Site Development Plan request of Charles Hecht and Alfredo Alonso). He noted that there was no provision in the Board’s By-Laws to reconsider an item unless it is done so at the same meeting. 4 Chairman Guerette read into the record a letter from Mary Louis Davitt expressing her gratitude to Mr. Guerette and Ms. Mitchell for their consideration of the towers issue at the previous meeting. There being no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.