HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-04 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 5 PM
City Council Chambers
Minutes
COUNCILORS: Chair Gratwick, Blanchette, Durgin and Longo
STAFF: Conlow, McKay, Bolduc, Gastia, Gould, Martin and Vanadestine
1. Main Street Corridor Land Use Plan
City Manager Conlow introduced this item stating that several City Councilors have indicated an
interest in improving the area of the City extending along the waterfront and Main Street as well as
adjacent residential neighborhoods of Buck, Cedar, Union and Third Streets to the Bass Park complex.
Staff has made a preliminary designation of this area as the Main Street Corridor.
C.D. Director Rod McKay added that due to the investments that have been made by the City on the
waterfront, the arena project at Bass Park and Hollywood Slots on Main Street, there is additional
significant potential for improvements in this area. Staff is suggesting targeting this area under the
City’s federally funded Community Development Program. Rod and staff further reviewed the work that
they have been doing to date and the issues they feel are important in order to develop a plan of action
and improvement for the Main Street Corridor. It is required to have public hearings within the
neighborhoods affected in order to get input from the residents. Staff will be working from now until
the first of May (when the Community Development Application has to be submitted) on this process
with the hopes that the City Council will approve the project in order to begin work by July 1, 2012. At
this time, a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Planning Services for developing a Main Street Corridor Land
Use Plan has also been drafted for the Council’s review and consideration.
Asst. C.D. Director Rosie Vanadestine added that staff will also strengthen the Code Enforcement
piece by reviewing the codes, ordinances and policies and update any of those necessary as the process
proceeds. It is hoped to increase the participation of the police department to create a safe
environment for the residential neighborhoods. This will be a multi-project due to the size of the area.
The priority of staff is the recommendation on how to allocate what is available for short-term and long-
range resources. It is hoped to use other funding strategies besides the CDBG funds such as the
Downtown TIF, and, if necessary, consider other grant opportunities and possibly even public/private
partnerships. Another goal of staff is to create a model in the focus area that can be recreated in other
neighborhoods as necessary.
City Manager Conlow added that with respect to the RFP for this project she would like to review it
more thoroughly with Rod McKay and David Gould, and then bring it back to the next BED Committee.
After that, start bringing ordinance changes to the Committee over the next couple of months.
Committee member’s present encouraged staff to begin this process as soon as possible.
Councilor Durgin made a motion to go into Executive Session – Economic Development – Disposition
of Property – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) ( C ).
2. Executive Session – Economic Development – Disposition of Property – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) ( C )
3. Action on Above Item
No Committee action on above item.