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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-01-16 Planning Board Minutes PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF JANUARY 16, 1996 MINUTES Board Members Present: Moshe Myerowitz, Chairman Mary Ann Bostwick George Burgoyne Thomas Drummond Scott Hall City Councilors Present: Councilor Tyler City Staff Present: Norman Heitmann John Lord Rodney McKay Robert Osborne News Media Present: Bangor Daily News Chairman Myerowitz called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and explained the components of the Agenda for the benefit of the audience. In the absence of Board Member MacArthur, Associate Member Bostwick voted. PUBLIC HEARINGS Item No. 1: To amend the Land Development Code by changing a parcel of land located at 195-199 State Street from Neighborhood Service District to Urban Service District. Walteen G. Soucy d/b/a Frank's Bakery, applicant. C.O. # 96-76. Chairman Myerowitz opened the public hearing and asked for proponents. John Largay, representing the applicant, spoke in favor of the proposed change. He explained that the applicant was requesting the zone change in order to allow for a CD/Tape sales business in a portion of the building. He told the Board that he felt that this change was consistent with the other existing uses in the area. He also noted that the applicant had made a sizeable investment in this property. Richard Soucy, representing the owner, discussed with the Board other uses in this area and said that he felt that this request was consistent with the other existing uses in the area. He also said that he would like to be able to have a seating area for his customers. (In the present zone, this is not allowed.) Gary Robinson, a potential tenant, indicated that he wanted to lease space in this building to sell new and used CDs. Mr. Petticord, a neighborhood resident, told the Board that he had no objections to the proposed zone change request and was in favor of upgrading the neighborhood. No one spoke in opposition. Chairman Myerowitz asked for comments from Staff. Planning Officer Lord told the Board that Urban Service District zoning was not consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan which calls for Multi-Family and Service District zoning along State Street from Pine Street to Otis Street. The City's zoning policy since the 1960's has been to discourage the intense commercial use of this area and limit commercial zoning to a neighborhood commercial type of designation. The result of which has been to phase out the automotive uses and the strip commercial types of uses on State Street. There has been substantial redevelopment of properties in the area for office and other types of uses that fit into the Neighborhood Commercial and Multi-Family and Service District designations. For these reasons, the Planning Staff recommended that the Board recommend denial of the proposed zone change to the City Council. Chairman Myerowitz closed the public hearing and asked for comments from the Board. The Board discussed the permitted uses in the Neighborhood Service District and how they related to this property. Mr. Drummond said that he had concerns about the long-term implications of rezoning this property. Mr. Hall moved to recommend to the City Council that the zone change request contained in 96-76 be denied. That motion was seconded by Mr. Burgoyne and it passed by a vote of 4 to 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Item No. 2: Planning Board Approval of Minutes of January 2, 1996 Meeting. The minutes of the January 2, 1996 Planning Board 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 Lord reminded the Board of a joint City Council and Planning Board workshop to discuss the proposed amendment to the Downtown Development District at the Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 1996 at 5:30 p.m. Item No. 4: Open Discussion The Board discussed the Neighborhood Service District zoning and requested information from Staff on this zone and on the land use policy for the State Street Corridor. There being no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:51 p.m.