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.