HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-11-02 Planning Board Minutes
PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF BANGOR
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 2, 1999
MINUTES
Board Members Present: Mary Ann Bostwick, Chairman
Ray Bolduc
Frederic Costlow
Richard Fournier
Robert Kreitzer
Robert Lingley
City Staff Present: Katherine Weber
Rodney McKay
Lynn Johnson
News Media Present: None
Chairman Bostwick called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. In the absence of
Board Member Burgoyne, Associate Member Kreitzer voted.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item No. 1: Conditional Use/Site Development Plan Approval for light industry use at
60 Summer Street in a General Commercial and Service District.
Summer Street Capital, applicant.
Chairman Bostwick reopened the public hearing. Thomas Emero, Corporate
Counsel for the applicant, spoke in favor of the application. He explained that the
applicant seeks approval to relocate Snow & Nealley to this location. He told the Board
that this use would be less intensive than the prior car service center was.
David Coutts, of Snow & Nealley, told the Board that they also propose to close
the present Central Street retail store and relocate it to this site. He discussed the
proposed parking arrangement, retail area in the front portion of the building and the light
manufacturing activity which included assembly of garden tools and sharpening and
shaping of blades for axes.
No one spoke in opposition. Chairman Bostwick asked for Staff comments.
Planning Officer Weber indicated that the Staff had met with the applicant and the
proposed light manufacturing use met the zoning district standards as well as the
standards for granting a conditional use. She also noted that the site plan for this project
was previously approved by the Board. Staff recommended approval of the conditional
use request.
Chairman Bostwick closed the public hearing and asked for a motion. Mr.
Costlow moved to approve the conditional use request for 60 Summer Street as it met the
conditional use standards of the Chapter 165-9A and those as outlined in the Staff
Memorandum. Mr. Fournier seconded the motion. The Board voted 5 to 0 in favor. Mr.
Fournier moved to approve the site development plan. Mr. Costlow seconded the motion
which carried 5 to 0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Item No. 2: Planning Board Approval of Minutes of October 19, 1999 Meeting.
The minutes of the October 19, 1999 Meeting were unanimously approved as
printed.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Item No. 3: Planning Board Review of Correspondence and Other Communications
from the Planning Office.
Planning Officer Weber noted, for the record, that a copy of a letter from Realty
Resources Chartered to St. John’s Church regarding the Boyd Street project had been
received by the Planning Office. A copy was distributed to the Board for review. Copies
of amendment pages to the Land Development Code were distributed to the Board. Also,
mylars for the pre-existing, unlotted subdivision located on lower Main Street were
presented for the Board’s signature.
Item No. 4: Update on Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
Planning Officer Weber discussed the history of comprehensive planning and how
Bangor’s Comprehensive Plan has evolved. Bangor’s first Comprehensive Plan was
adopted in 1969 and was revised in 1990. Now, in order to comply with the State’s
Growth Management Act Statute the City is updating and revising the 1990
Comprehensive Plan.
Planning Officer Weber explained that a draft of this revision was submitted to
the State Planning Office last year. After review, the State determined that Bangor’s Plan
was basically in order, but did request that additional information in the areas of
affordable housing, historic preservation and the implementation strategy be submitted.
She noted that the Planning Office was in the process of generating this information for
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submission As soon as the State approves the supplemental information, the Plan will
be presented to the City Council for adoption. After adoption by the Council, the Land
Development Code will be updated as well.
Member Lingley noted the problems in the Union Place area and felt that the City
needed a policy to address these problems.
Planning Officer Weber indicated that these types of issues would be dealt with
through the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code update.
Rod McKay, Director of Community and Economic Development, explained that
during the 90’s the City Council decided to concentrate on these types of problems on a
City-wide basis. However, the Council now wants to go back to concentrating on
specific neighborhoods such as the Union Place area. He noted that five properties in the
Union Place area are being appraised for possible acquisition.
Planning Officer Weber also added that the City planned to prepare an Executive
Summary of the Comprehensive Plan which would condense this large document into a
more useful planning tool.
There being no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 7:25
p.m.
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