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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-21 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 5 pm City Hall Council Chambers Minutes Councilors: Chair Gratwick, Durgin, Sprague and Weston Staff: Conlow, Gould, McKay, Pereira, Inman and Willette 1. Ordinance – Amending Chapter 165, Section 165-72 Land Development Code, of the Code of the City of Bangor, by Amending Provisions of Section 165-72 K. – Required Number of Spaces David Gould, Planning Officer, reviewed this item for the Committee. This amendment is intended to create a parking standard for reuse of historic structures the same as new construction. The nature of older historic structures is that they contain many spaces that are not as efficient as new construction and therefore their parking demand per square foot is less. Councilor Durgin made a motion to adopt staff’s recommendation as presented. Seconded by Councilor Sprague. Unanimous vote. 2. Ordinance – Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, Section 165-32, Quarries, Mining and Excavations, of the Code of the City of Bangor, By adding Provisions Regarding Permit Extensions David Gould, Planning Officer, reviewed this item for the Committee. This amendment will clarify the procedure for extensions for quarry permits granted by the Planning Board. The Land Development Code presently has language for extensions of permits but provides no guidance as to the procedural steps required for an applicant or the Planning Board. Councilor Weston made a motion to adopt staff’s recommendation as presented. Seconded by Councilor Sprague. Unanimous vote. Chair Gratwick inquired of David Gould if the City has any ordinances relating to the stripping of top soil. David replied that the City has standards relative to filling and grading of top soil or mining gravel. Chair Gratwick added that he would like this topic to come back to the Committee for further discussion. 3. Extension of Penobscot County Parking Lease Rod McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development, reviewed this item for the Committee. The City of Bangor has a lease with Penobscot County for the lease of 75 parking spaces in the Court Street Parking Lot which expires on December 31, 2011. The City and County wish to extend the Lease Agreement for another two year period. There are provisions in the lease agreement whereby if the City needs to displace the parking during the lease period due to demolition and clearance of the former police station or expansion of the parking lot, the City will offer the County alternate parking locations in the downtown at the same rate. The other change to the lease agreement would be to add a provision in Article VII, the possibility of renovation of the former Police Department building. Staff recommends approval. Councilor Weston made a motion to move staff recommendation on this item as presented. Seconded by Councilor Sprague. Unanimous vote. Councilor Sprague stated that he has complaints from citizens that entering and exiting the post office parking on the corner of Hammond and Franklin Streets is very hazardous. He also has received complaints that there is no oversight of that parking lot. Rod McKay stated that the parking lot and the building where the post office is located both belong to Penobscot County. To provide the parking for the post office the county’s parking was displaced and that’s why the County leases additional spaces from the City. Rod added that in talking with Bill Collins, County Administrator, he is aware that there is a problem with some of their employees parking in that lot that should not be so Rod will bring that to Mr. Collins attention again. In regard to the danger of entering and exiting the parking lot, that is the County’s responsibility but the City did, as part of their Franklin Street improvement project, relocate a bump in the sidewalk from one side of the exit to the other so that it would improve visibility looking up Franklin Street towards Harlow Street to make that a little less dangerous. Chair Gratwick asked that Staff bring this issue back to the January 18, 2012 BED Committee with further information on what can be done with respect to signage and who polices these lots. Also do a review of the entrance and exits at the post office parking lot to see if anything can be done differently with signage for pedestrian movement. He added that perhaps appropriate staff from the police dept. and the county could also attend to clarify any of these issues. Councilor Weston suggested that as the County has their own meetings perhaps staff from the City could attend one of those meetings to explain the concerns as expressed and then report back to the BED Committee. 4. Extension of Tentative Developer Status for Bond Properties, LLC Rod McKay reviewed this item stating that on September 26, 2011 by Council Order 11-297 the City Council approved Tentative Developer Status of Bond Properties, LLC for development of Parcel #3 on the Bangor waterfront for development of a fish house restaurant. Bond Properties, LLC also has a restaurant in Bar Harbor and due to finishing up their peak season in that locale they need more time to finalize their plans and address the site development issues at the Bangor waterfront. They have asked for an extension of the status for 90 days to March 30, 2012. Staff recommends approval of this request. Councilor Durgin made a motion to adopt staff recommendation as presented. Seconded by Councilor Sprague. Unanimous vote. 5. 2012 Golf Course Fees Tracy Willette, Parks and Recreation Director, reviewed the proposed membership and green fee changes for 2012 at the Bangor Golf Course. These increases are necessary in order to balance the revenues with the operating expenses at the golf course. Staff continually reviews their fees with the goal of offering an affordable golf facility for as many players as possible while continuing to generate a level of revenue that meets their operating expenses. Councilor Weston asked that at the next BED Committee meeting there be a budget to actual from April to November 2011 report on the Golf Course. Tracy Willette replied that this will be one of the items taken up at an upcoming workshop soon to be scheduled in order to go over the golf course operation in detail. Councilor Durgin made a motion to adopt the recommendation of staff as presented. Seconded by Councilor Weston. Unanimous vote. 6. Economic Development Update Tanya Pereira, Economic Development Business Development Specialist, gave an update on activities she has been working on as follows: • continuing conversations around priority areas such as the waterfront, Main Street (hotel conversation in particular).  projects in the downtown that are moving forward  C&L Aerospace conversations continue – several meetings are scheduled for January 2012 to continue to evaluate what are the possible ways the City can help to support that expansion and what kind of support they need from other sources as well.  there are a couple of confidential large projects taking place and continue to move forward.  there have been a lot of small downtown space inquiries  working with a couple of commercial realtors on larger parcels in other sections of the city that they’re interested in marketing in new and different ways.  Bangor has been chosen as the finish-line destination for the Fireball Adventure Rally. Details will be forthcoming.  working on various PR, communications and writing assignments as needed to help fill in. Councilor Sprague suggested to staff that a recruitment board be created when a physician or professor or any kind of professional is hoping to come to Bangor. He has been contacted by private practice physicians, professors from Husson University and the University of Maine who are in agreement that this is needed. Citizens from Bangor have also contacted him expressing that they would like to be ambassadors; School Superintendent Betsy Webb is also interested in supporting such a board. Chair Gratwick asked that the following items be put on the January 18, 2012 BED Agenda:  Discussion of Councilor Sprague’s suggestions  Farmer’s Market update (perhaps with interested farmers)  City’s policy to lease property (rather than sell) that has already been developed  A report on issues relating to the Bangor Post Office entrance and exit traffic problems; Penobscot County policing of the Post Office Parking lot; and a report from the police department on related problems they have encountered.  Report on Golf Course  Further discussion on City Ordinance with respect to stripping of topsoil Meeting adjourned.