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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-04 Community and Economic Development Committee MinutesCOMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, lune 4,1997 ®5:00 PM MINUTES COMMITTEE PRESENT: Councilor lames Tyler, Chair Councilor Michael Aube Councilor Joseph Baknoci STAFF PRESENT: Councilor Nicht Farnham COWC1Ier Den Soucy Bdward A. Barrett, City Manager Rodney G. McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development Stephen Bolduc, Economic Development Officer Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Officer John Lord, Planning Officer OTHERS PRESENT: Ownem of 77 Railroad Street, Bangor Cynthia Cavanaugh, DBA Mazc Berlin, Bangor Center Corporation The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Councilor James Tyler at 5:05 PM. Councilor Nicht Farnham sat in for Councilor Michael Aube unfit he arrived leer on in the meeting. -' A last minme unscheduled item was introduced to be taken up as follows: 1TFT4 q1a-Amending Docking Rates at Bangor Waterhont Jim Ring presented a Council Order to amend the current docking rates at the Bangor Waterfiont. In March of 1997 the Council did approve revised docking rates- weekly rare rod a prime season and full season. Recently, several requests have been received for a monthly rate by potential new boaters. This was discussed at the Harbor Committee on lune 3. They recommended establishing a monddy rate of $110 plus $14 per foot trust length over 20 feet. Staff recommends approval. A motion was made and seconded to approve this request as presented. So voted. ITEM 42- Consideration of Recommendation m City Council for Acquisidon of 77 Railroad Shat Rod McKay stated that this item relates to the last remaining property on the Bangor waterfront. Staff is seeking audedmtion m notify owners of this property that the City is interested in acquiring the building; will have the property appraised and make an offer to Nem based on the appraisal. If the offu is accepted, Nen an agreement will be negotiated to acquire the property. Staff recommends that the Committee authorize procedure on this item. A motion was made and seconded for Staff to proceed as requested. So voted. ITEM k3 -The Downtown Bangor Association- Cynthia Cavanaugh, President of the DBA, has requested a meeting with the Committee to discuss the City's policy reining to temporary food vendors in the downtown mea Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Officer, reviewed this request for the Committee stating than Cynthia Cavanaugh of the DBA am requested that the City's temporary food vendors policy be amended W allow the downtown businesses to have a popwm machine in the downtown during the summer months. Dan further stated that in 1992, Council Order 92-211 was approved whereby sidewalk sales of food in the downtown were prohibited, except n Pickering Square and in conjunction with special events. Dan has related to Cynthia that if this is amended for one organization it has to be done for all. Dan further stand drat there is an average of 4-5 requests per week in his office for itinerant vendor licenses. Some of the reasons for the 1992 decision were due to complaints non resouran operators in the downtown who felt that this was unfair competition due to its high visibility; friendliness issues and tach being left around. Cynthia Cavanabghpresentd her request to the Committee. As part of this effort, their Logo would read "Keep Downtown Popping". The intent of use for Nis popwm machine would be to use it at such events like the Noontime Concerts in Pickering Square and at the waterfront Twilight Delight Concerts; also would like to use it on Saturdays in the downtown during the summer months. This is anom-profit effort. The Downtown Meadows; are very much in favor of this idea They would have an orgardzed volunteer group who would handle this effort. Electricity would be required -The Pheruc two has offered their site for this use. If the can is moved around to different locations (once the popcorn is popped) this would not require electricity. Discussion on the options available under a special event permit were dlsetssed. Councilor Baldarri suggested that an ordinance be drafted limiting the number of outside cart vendors per square foot of park space or sidewalk space, etc. Councilor Soucy suggested theta public meeting be held to see if any downtown merchants (i.e. restaurant owners in pamcular) have a problem with this concept Staffwill draft appropriate language to reflect Nese proposed changes and get the feelings of the downtown retail sector. ITEM a4 -Maine P,nergy Propane, Ise. -Lease Agreement This item was taken up at the last C&ED Committee meeting and is now brought back for final consideration. The lease proposes to provide for relocation of a 30,000 gallon propane tank to a and provided by the City on Union Street. This tank services the Westgate Mall and the Airport Will. They will have the option of a 25-year lease after the 5-year renewable. The anent agreement capnes September l st. Staffrecommends approval of this lease agreement as preserved. A motion was made and seconded to recommend this to Council for approval. Savored. ITEM 41- Reautimrizefion to Bangor Center Municipal Development District fm the period July 1, 1999 to lune 30,1998 Rod McKay reviewed this item for the Committee stating that the Bangor Center Corporation's Vice President, Marc Berlin, and seventh other members of the Board were present insupportofthis hem. This itemproposes to continue the districtwifioutamending the boundaries as previously proposed and to also continue the special assessment rate at.53 per $1,0011 valuation. Question.$ were asked by the Committee regarding the previously proposed boundary expansions - what is the rescan for this proposed expansion. Marc Berfin replied that currently the boundary needs to be rationalized and thus, is somewhat arbitrary as to who is and is not included. However, there is a strong some that the boundaries should not be expanded without justifying the services that come with this. Until the .Bomd and the City can go to the businesses in the proposed expanded areas with a list of services to be covered with the additional tax assessment, it is the strong opinion that this should be postponed until such time. Because of the ongoing events program which includes the waterfront park area, itjust seemed logical to include the waterfront n part of the expanded development district. The question before the Committee today is whether or not to continue the development district m the downtown and to approve the Contract between the City and the Bangor Center Corporation to tarty out the program and approve the budget. After some discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee to continue the district as it currently is. Future discussion on expansion of the boundaries can be taken up at another time when everyone contented can be involved A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this itan to the City Council. So voted. ITEM a5 -Code Enforcement Update Rod McKay updated the Committee on the parking problem on Stillwater Ave. due to a vendor's flea market business location- Dan Wellington has prepared two proposed ordinance amendments- one would prohibit itinerant vendors all together and one would allow them to be in a location for 45 days. Dan Wellington stood that in 1992 the Land Development Code was amended specifically to allow this type of operation to exist. However, the economic times have changed and it was not envisioned that such an operation as this one would come into existence. Dan stated that the options are: I) to change the 45 days m anything the City would like; or 2) abolish this section of the Land Development Code and go back to requiring that all commocial entities that establish themselves on lots most meet the City's development standards. The effect that Itis ruling would have on the adjacent small hot dog stood is that they would be allowed to finish out this year, they would not be allowed back next year. The only way they would be allowed to have a stand is as a permanent installation. A motion was made and seconded w direct Staff to draft the appropriate changes to the Land Development Cade as discussed. So voted. ITEM #6 - Planning Update John Lord updated the Committee on recent items approved by the Planting Board. He also discussed the parking regulations on Stillwater Avenue and the Mall area Staff is recommending that on Stillwater Avenue (as far out as Longview beyond Chase Road) and (in the other direction) to Broadway no parking be allowed on both sides with the exception of the curb cut adjacent to a "Mom & Pop- store at Grove comer of Grove & Stillwater Ave. A similar situation on North Hildreth, Bennett and Rim Streets in Heritage Industrial Park will be handled as well. ITEM M] -Economic Development Update a. Lease Amendment with International Paper- 39 Florida Avenue Steve Bolduc presorted to the Committee an amendment to a lease agreement with Intematioval Paper Company. They currently lease a portion of Building 42U at 39 Florida Avenue and would like to lease an additional 201 sq. ft at the same raw Per square foot. The Board of Directors of the BanAir Corporation recently met and have recommended approval of Us amendment to the C&ED Committee. A motion was made and seconded by approve this amendment as presented. So voted. b. Executive Session - Land Disposition - A motion was made and seconded to go into Executive Session to take up the matter of land disposition. So voted. With no further business a hand, the meeting was adjourned m approximately 6:30 PM.