Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-21 Planning Board Minutes PLANNING BOARD OF THE CITY OF BANGOR MEETING OF AUGUST 21, 2018 MINUTES Board Members Present:Charles Boothby, Chairman Ted Brush Nelson Durgin Phyllis Guerette Ken Huhn Lisa Shaw, Assoc. Member City Staff Present:Sean Gambrel, PlanningStaff David Gould, Planning Officer Chair Boothby called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA 1.Land Development PermitApplication –Site Development Plan Applicantproposes to construct an addition to entrance of existing building, site circulation, and parking improvements at property located at 516 Mount Hope Avenue (Tax Map R63-072) in a Government and Institutional Service District (G&ISD). Eastside Center for Health and Rehabilitation, LLC., applicant. MemberHuhn moved approval of the consent agenda. Member Guerette seconded the motion. Approved unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING 2.Zone Change–To Amend the Land Development Code by changing a parcel of land located at 114 Somerset Street (Tax Map 048-078) from Urban Residence 1 District (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 District (URD-2), said parcel of land containing approximately .39 acres of land. Families and Children Together, applicant. 73 HARLOW STREET, BANGOR, ME 04401 TELEPHONE: (207) 992-4280 FAX: (207) 945-4447 WWW.BANGORMAINE.GOV Don Lynch of Families and Children Together introduced the application. FACT works with homeless families to find permanent housing. Currently, there are no shelters that allow families to stay together. FACT is hoping to house two families at this location. Member Kuhn inquired how many bedrooms are in the residence. Per Mr. Lynch, 5 bedrooms. Chair Boothby asked for proponents to the rezoning application. Fr. Frank Murray of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Parish spoke in favor of the application.His parish has had a longstanding involvement with homelessness issues in the community and he stated that and his parishionersfeel that this is a very important facility to have in the community.He also mentioned that the Church owns the adjacent St. Xavier’sHome, and as a neighbor has no concerns with any potential impacts to their property. Boyd Kronholm of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter noted that this facility will serve an urgent need in the community and strongly supports the application. Gerry Gross of the Congregation Beth El Social Action Committee spoke in favor of the application. Barbara Cates, a neighborhood resident of Cumberland Street, spoke in favor of the application, noting that separating families during a period of homelessness is tragic and can at times be an obstacle from which a family never recovers. Beverly Daniels, Executive Director of FACT, spoke on behalf of her organization, noting that the current home is in good shape and that FACT will be doing additional upgrades and ongoing maintenance, such that the property should not be a nuisance or detract from the neighborhood. Derrick Hurder, Communications Coordinator of FACT, noted that the organization has been in contact with many of the neighbors and that overwhelmingly response has been supportive. Chair Boothby asked for opponents to the rezoning application. John Sullivan, an abutter on Grove Street, stated that he was not necessarily opposed to the rezoning but had a number of concerns that he wanted the applicant to respond to.He said he was unsure of the length of stay that would be allowed in this facility, and said that while he understood that all adults residing on premises would be subject to a background check, was concerned about troubled teenagers who may not have the same screening process, and therefore might cause issues for his property or family. Mr. Lynch responded to Mr. Sullivan’s concerns, stating that there was no limit on the duration of stay, but that the typical duration of residence was a few days to a few months, and that lengthy stays were uncommon.FACT provides active services to these families to limit their stay to the shortest stay practicable.He noted that there are house rules for the facilities, and that any resident, adult or youth, who violated those rules could cause the family to be relocated to a different facility. Planning Officer David Gould announced that he had received a few emails in opposition and read them to the Board: Elaine Doyle of Parkview Street stated her concern about property values in the neighborhood and potential changes to neighborhood character that might result from this rezoning.She stated that she feels this rezoning is detrimental to the development of Bangor and will cause people to relocate elsewhere. Susanand Frank Neel of Parkview Street also were opposed to this rezoning, and were worried that it might open the door to further rezoningwhich will further threaten their neighborhood, which they feel has been declining already. Miles Theeman of Grove Street was concerned about the long-term impacts of this rezoning, and suggested a contract rezoning could be pursued which limited the property to a family shelter serving no more than two families, rather than a standard rezoning which wouldallow up to four dwelling units to be allowed. Associate Member Shaw spoke in favor of the application and feels that this is a good application. Member Kuhn believes this is a reasonable request and supports the application because the neighborhood is largely multi-family. Member Durgin moved to recommend the zone change to the City Council. Member Guerette seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor to recommend the zone change to the City Council. NEW BUSINESS 3.Land Development Permit Application –Site Development Plan –Applicant proposes to add decorative external lights to new corporate office building located at 11 Hamlin Way (Tax Map 043-005) in a Waterfront Development District. Bangor Savings Bank, applicant. Planning Officer Gould advised the Board that the applicant has requested a continuance to the next meeting. Member Durgin movedto continuethe application to the next Planning Board Meeting. Member Brush seconded the motion.The motion was unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES th 4.Approval of August 7, 2018 Meeting Minutes Meeting minutes were unanimously approvedwith minor corrections. 5.Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.