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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-07-18 Planning Board Minutes PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF JULY 18, 2000 MINUTES Board Members Present: Mary Ann Bostwick, Chairman Robert Guerette Robert Kreitzer Robert Lingley City Staff Present: Lynn Johnson Rodney McKay James Ring Katherine Weber News Media Present: None Chairman Bostwick opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA As no one wished to remove the item for discussion, Chairman Bostwick asked for a motion. The Board voted 4 to 0 in favor of a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. The item approved was: Item No. 1: Site Development Plan Approval to construct two concrete slabs for soccer field benches and to construct a roof over the benches for weather protection at Bangor High School located at 885 Broadway in a Government and Institutional Service District. – Bangor School Department, applicant. PUBLIC HEARINGS Item No. 2: Planning Board Approval of Comprehensive Plan 2000. Chairman Bostwick opened the Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan 2000. Planning Officer Weber gave a powerpoint presentation on the City’s comprehensive planning process since the 1990 Plan Update, and the relationship between Maine’s Growth Management Program and Bangor’s local planning program. She noted that Bangor has been proactively planning for over 60 years as evidenced in the progress that has been made in Downtown revitalization, waterfront redevelopment, urban renewal neighborhoods, growth in the regional retail and professional service sectors, and expansion of parks and open space areas. She emphasized that the Comprehensive Plan incorporates many plans into one document that ties land use to fiscal planning, identifies and addresses needs within the community, incorporates a high degree of citizen participation, and makes Bangor eligible for Federal and State money. Planning Officer Weber described how the land use concept maps take the City’s existing development patterns, overlay development constraints and opportunities, overlay services and utilities, and identify valuable natural and cultural features to create Development Policy and Zoning Policy maps to serve as a guide future growth and conservation. She also discussed trends that are derived from and driven by planning issues such as Bangor’s growing importance as the regional service center for the area, and the impacts of transportation and infrastructure improvements at the airport, Bangor Mall and waterfront areas. Planning Officer Weber explained that, for purposes of comprehensive planning, the City is divided into three policy areas: (1) urban developed, (2) developing, and (3) resource, rural and open space. Land use and regulatory policies are applied to zones within these three broad areas. She noted that the Plan includes an implementation program and recommendations for capital improvements. Following adoption of the Comprehensive Plan 2000, the City will undertake four activities, namely:  Develop a Guide for the Future as a summary document that integrates all goals, policies, objectives and strategies for wise growth and conservation.  Update and revise the City’s Land Development Code, Subdivision Regulations, and Design Standards.  Develop Growth Management Strategies for species neighborhoods and areas.  Develop a Cultural Plan for Bangor to be included as a planning element in the Comprehensive Plan 2000. Planning Officer Weber then responded to questions from the Board. Rodney McKay, Director of Community and Economic Development, spoke in support of the planning process and the need to have an official planning document that facilitates the City’s on-going development activities. Members of the public were invited to offer comments, but those present indicated that they were there to listen and learn. 2 Chairman Bostwick closed the Public Hearing, and called for a motion to adopt the Comprehensive Plan 2000, and recommend to the City Council that they do the same. Mr. Guerette moved to adopt the Comprehensive Plan 2000. Mr. Lingley seconded the motion. It passed by a vote of 4 to 0. Mr. Lingley then moved to recommend to the City Council adoption of Comprehensive Plan 2000 as the City’s official planning document. Mr. Kreitzer seconded it, and the motion carried by a Board vote of 4-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Item No. 3: Planning Board Approval of Minutes of July 5, 2000 Meeting. The minutes of the July 5, 2000 Planning Board Meeting were unanimously approved as printed. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS Item No. 4: Planning Board Review of Correspondence and Other Communications from the Planning Office. There being no items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. 3