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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-05 Planning Board Minutes PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF DECEMBER 5, 2000 MINUTES Board Members Present: Mary Ann Bostwick, Chairman Richard Fournier Robert Guerette Robert Lingley City Staff Present: Katherine Weber Rodney McKay Lynn Johnson News Media Present: None In the absence of Board Members Burgoyne and Costlow, Associate Member Guerette voted. As only four members were present and voting, Chairman Bostwick informed the applicants that they could request that their items be continued until such time as a full Board was present. All applicants wished to proceed. CONSENT AGENDA As no one wished to remove the item for discussion, Chairman Bostwick asked for a motion. Mr. Lingley moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mr. Fournier seconded the motion. The Board voted 4 to 0 in favor. The item approved is: Item No. 1: To consider a request for an extension of the starting and completion dates for construction of a four-unit apartment building located at 49 Hemlock Street in an Urban Residence 2 District. Bernard LaBree, applicant. PUBLIC HEARINGS Item No. 2: To amend the Land Development Code by changing two parcels of land located on Florida Avenue and Maine Avenue from Urban Industry District to Contract Airport Development District. Said parcels containing approximately 22 acres. City of Bangor, applicant – C.O. # 01-43. Chairman Bostwick opened the public hearing and asked for comments from proponents. Rodney McKay, Director of Community and Economic Development, spoke in favor of this proposal. He explained that a major employer was interested in expanding in this area but in order to do so, without leasing additional land, a contract zone change was necessary to reduce the required setbacks along Florida Avenue. This would allow for construction of an addition up to the lot line along Florida Avenue. A question was asked about discontinuing Florida Avenue to allow for such an expansion. Mr. McKay explained that while Florida Avenue is not an accepted City street, the City wishes to retain maintain this street in order to provide access to the existing businesses. No one spoke in opposition. Planning Officer Weber indicated that the proposed contract zone change request is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan 2000 and the Land Development Code that indicates that the Airport Development District was established to accommodate those uses which, because of locational requirements or operational characteristics, are appropriate to locate at or in close proximity to the Airport. She also indicated that the Airport-dependent and support service businesses located on the two parcels under consideration for this contract zone change request meet the use criteria specified in the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. Therefore, Staff recommended that the Board recommend the contract zone change to the City Council. Chairman Bostwick closed the public hearing and asked for a motion. After careful consideration and discussion, Mr. Fournier moved to recommend to the City Council that the contract zone change request contained in C.O. # 01-43 be approved. Mr. Lingley seconded the motion. The Board voted 4 to 0 in favor. Item No. 3: Amending Chapter 165-135a, Application and Explanation of Standards, Height Limits. City of Bangor, applicant. C.O. # 01-42. The public hearing was opened by Chairman Bostwick who asked for comments from proponents. No one spoke either in favor of or in opposition to the requested zoning amendment. Chairman Bostwick then asked for Staff comments. Planning Officer Weber explained that this proposed zoning amendment would eliminate the building envelope height requirement in the Downtown Development District and the Airport Development District. Planning Officer Weber noted that the reason for this amendment is that existing buildings in the DDD do not meet this requirement and are “nonconforming.” Also, building height in the Airport Development District is regulated by Federal FAA regulations and standards imposed by the Planning Board under its site plan review process. This amendment would provide greater latitude for new and/or expanded structures in both districts while keeping the character of development in these districts. Therefore, Staff recommended that the Board recommend approval of this zoning amendment. The Board discussed what oversight the Planning Board and City would have regarding the size and bulk of proposed buildings in the Downtown District in order to maintain the existing design and aesthetics of this area. Planning Officer Weber indicated that building height is governed by code regulations, including historic preservation and facade requirements. Chairman Bostwick closed the public hearing and asked for a motion. After careful consideration and discussion, Mr. Fournier moved to recommend to the City Council that the zoning amendment request contained in C.O. # 01-43 be approved. Mr. Lingley seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 4 to 0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Item No. 4: Planning Board Approval of Minutes of November 7, 2000 and November 21, 2000 Meetings The Board voted unanimously to consider the minutes at its next meeting. NEW BUSINESS Item No. 5: Site Development Plan/Site Location of Development Modification approval to construct a 7,000 sq. ft. addition to the existing auto dealership located at 260 Hogan Road in a General Commercial and Service District. Varney’s, applicant. Andy Sturgeon and Brian Wilson of Ames Corporation, and Bill and Rick Varney of Varney’s were present to answer question of the Board. Mr. Wilson explained the components of the site development plan as well as the site location of development application. Planning Officer Weber noted that new plans had been submitted addressing changes requested by Staff. Staff recommended approval of the Site Development Plan and the Site Location of Development Act Modification with the condition that the loading zone be moved out of the travelway. Mr. Sturgeon told the Board that this would be taken care of and new plans would be submitted. Mr. Fournier moved to approve the site development plan as presented. Mrs. Bostwick seconded the motion, which passed by a vote of 4 to 0. Mr. Fournier then moved to approve the Site Location of Development Act Modification as presented. Mr. Lingley seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 to 0. Item No. 6: Final Subdivision Plan Revision Approval to amend the lot lines of two existing lots located off Packard Drive in a Low Density Residential District. Judson M. Grant, Jr., applicant. Mike Longo, representing the applicant, explained that this amendment would move lot lines within two existing lots to incorporate the division of a paper street that was being reverted back to the abutting landowners. The amendment would also allow for needed access to these lots, one access off Packard Drive and the other off Balsam Road. Planning Officer Weber noted that Staff recommended approval of the revision to these two lots. She noted that this subdivision amendment was necessary due to the City’s action not to construct this paper street and thereby revert ownership of this land back to the abutting property owner(s). Mr. Lingley moved to approve the Final Subdivision Plan Revision as presented. Mr. Fournier seconded the motion, which carried 4 to 0. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS Item No. 7: Planning Board Review of Correspondence and Other Communications from the Planning Office. The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.