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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-09-23 Community and Economic Development Committee MinutesCOMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, September 23,1995 @5:00 PM MINUTES COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilor Joseph Baldacci, Acting Chair (in absence of Councilor Aube) Councilor Nichi Farnham (sitting in for Councilor Romman) Councilor Gerry Palmer (sitting in for Councilor Baldacci) STAFF PRESENT: Edward A. Barrett, City Manager Rodney G. McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development T.J. Martval, C.D. Housing Resources Coordination Stephen Bolduc, Economic Development Officer Peter D'Enico, Economic Development Officer Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Officer John Lord, Planning Officer Jim tang City Engineer Erik Stimpfel, City Solicitor Police Chief Don Winslow OTHERS: Charles Brtkel, resident of Randolph Drive The meeting was called to order by Acting Committee Chah, Councilor Joseph Baldacci at 5:00 PM. ITEM 91 - Appointment of Arthur Sawyer, Jr. as Deputy Sealer of Weights and Measures Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Officer, armounced that Arthur Sawyer, Jr. has been appointed the new Deputy Sealer of Weights and Measures for the Bangor area. This position employs retired people to handle the responsibility of certifying gas pumps, retail scales and oil delivery lacks. Author, a Burger resident, was formerly employed by the State of Maine as Vert sealer of weights and measures for 25 years until his retirement. A motion was made and seconded to recommeM approval of this appointment to the full City Council. So voted. PERM#2- License Agreement with New Moon Technologies, LLC A License Agreement between New Moon Technologies, LLC and the City of Bangor to hold an Oktoberfed event in the downtown Bangor on October 24 was presented to the Committee. This event will involve beer tents -1 to be located at West Market Square and the other at Pickering Square. There will be a police officer at each location where beer is served. The children's activities will take place along the Kenduskeag Stream, Hannibal Hamlin Park andthe Norumbega Park. Staff recommends approval oftlus license agreementwhich will authorim New Moon Technologies to hold this event. After some discussion, Committee requested that Staffadd a clause to the agreement stating that the beer tents will close at 9:30 PM (one half how prior to the end of the event itself at 10 PM). A motion was made and seconded to approve License Agreement with New Moon Technologies, LLC with the addition of the clause with respect to the time of closing for beer lents. So voted. ITEM Q - Elimination of Kelly Lane T.I. Marticial, C.D. Housing Resonances Coordinator, reviewed for the Committee the proposed elimination of Kelly Lane located in the vicinity of Randolph Drive and Maxwell Lane where the City has recently acquired 51 units of former military housing. Residents already living in this area have expressed that they would like to see Kelly Lane eliminated. Staff spoke to the fire and police departments to see if they would have concerns with Us elimination; they do not. Staff then sent out 40 surveys to the area residents affected as to whether or not they would like this done. The consensus of 20 of the 24 surveys returned was uniu mous to have Kelly Lane eliminated; raw were not is favor of the elimination. Staff suggested that a barricade be placed at Kelly Lane for now in order to give the residents the opportunity to make sure this is what works best for them. There are no driveways or access off Kelly Lane which Us barricade would interfere with. A motion was made and seconded to proceed with the elimination of Kelly Lane by means of barricades until it can be structurally eliminated. So voted. ITEM #4 - Authorizing City Manager to Execute an Amendment to a Lease Agreement with the Philtrum Corporation for a building at 49 Florida Ave. Stephen Bolduc, Economic Development Officer, presented to the Committee a request for an amendment to the lease agreement with The Philtmm Corporation for the building located at 49 Florida Ave. This lease extension is for an additional 3 years with terms similar to those in previous agreements with Philtrum for the past 10 years. This item has been reviewed and approved by the Bam4tr Corporation Board of Directors. Staff recommends approval. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the amendment to the Lease Agreement with The Philtmm Corporation as presented. So voted. ITEM 45 - Consideration of an Offer from Daniel Tandy and Stefan Berkey d/b/a The Advertising Specialists of Maim, Inc. to purchase Lot 17 in the Bann.. Industrial Park Stephen Boldne, Economic Development Officer, reviewed the offer from The Advertising Specialists of Maine, Inc. to purchase Lot 17 in the BmA r Industrial Park in order to commuct a building for use as an office and warehouse for their business. Theyarein agreement with the asking price for this Meet which has frontage on Bur Air Road and BanAir Covet The City is represented by a real estate agent in this transaction whose commission is based upon the City's acceptance ofthe buyer's offer. The BaMrt Board of Directors have recommended approval of this offer. This lot could support up to 16,000 sq. ft. of mkiling space. Staff recommends as a guideline for building size on this lot that the building not be smaller then 6,000 sq. ft.. However, both Daniel Tandy and Stefan Berkey feel more comfortable at this time with a building around 5,000 N. ft. with plans to expand which has been part of their past business history. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this offer with a condition that a building of not less than 6,00 sq. ft. be constructed. So voted. rrEM#6- Executive Session- Land Disposition (on above item if necessary) No discussion necessary. ITEMM9- Review and Recommendation to City Council on City Commitmenuo financially Support Completing Renovation of Ne Former Freese's Building Rod McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development, reviewed for Committee the projections on loan issues for completing the renovation of the former Freese's Building on the Main Street side The IIF District for the entire Freese's building was designated in 1995. The Pickering Square side of the building for 1998 is assessed for $1,367,900. Next April, with a tax rate increase, the assessed value will be at $1,380,000. He indicated that projections built into the formula show [hat the value of the real estate will increase by 1% per year; the Maine Municipal Tax Rate will increase 2%per year. Inthe Year 2000, (ifthe City Council approves this action) the entire front side of the building will be rehabilitated and the assessment on the building is projected to be $4A million. This will increase over the duration of the life of the development dishict If permanent financing is agreed to by the City, the developer (Realty Resources) would borrow money from a private lender to do the construcfimn with the City assurances that they would provide the permanent financing when construction is completed in November or December of 1999. If this project is approved, construction will start before the eMafthiscalendaryear. Whenewarraction is completed, the City would Nenprovide Ne permanent to= financing for a 20 year period taking it into the year 2021. Rod further reviewed the municipal taz rates andi the tax revenues that the building will generate as well as the debt service schedule on this project. Council Orders for this item will go to the City Council at their Sept. 21 meeting for approval. ITEM 48- Code Enforcement Update Dan Wellington, Cade Enforcement Officer, updated the Committee on the status of the seriously deteriorating vacant Paramount Building in the downtown. Staff is in the process of doing a financial scenario to determine if the building is whabable and will keep Committee updated on this issue. ITEMM9 Planning Update Sohn Lord, Planning Officer, reviewed 3 items consisting of two cone changes and a zoning amendment which have been approved by the Plamdng Board. ITFMk14- Economic Development Steve Bolduc, Economic Development Officer, stated that Blue-CmsstBlue-Shield held a grand opening for Neu new Bangor offices located at One Merchants Plans. The facility is state - of -art and a visible location to its clients. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.