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Home My WebLink About2020-11-09 21-008 ORDINANCETitle, Ordinance 21-008 11/09/2020 CITY COUNCIL ACTION Council Meeting Date: November 9, 2020 Item No: 21-008 Responsible Dept: Planning/Legal Action Requested: District Map Change Map/Lot: 41/96 Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, District Map, by changing the Parcel of Land known as the Schoolhouse Apartments addressed at 183 Harlow Street (Map 41, Lot 96) from Urban Service District (USD) to Downtown Development District Contract (DDD*). Summary Community Housing of Maine ("CHOM") is seeking a zone change from USD to Contract Downtown Development District to facilitate the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Schoolhouse Apartments at 183 Harlow Street in Bangor, Maine. The rehabilitation project will result in the addition of 21 new affordable units for a total of 66 units of permanent affordable rental housing with on-site resident amenities. The Comprehensive Plan has the site as its current zone USD; however the building and its location are well suited for housing development, in keeping with Council policies on the provision of more housing units near goods and services. The proposed contract conditions are: A Schoolhouse Apartments shall maintain a parking space/unit ratio of 0.5 or better with onsite and offsite spaces. B. Schoolhouse Apartments will construct and maintain no less than 32 onsite parking spaces for tenant use. C. Schoolhouse Apartments will continue the terms of the leased off-site parking from the site of Bangor. This lease is valid through 2039, at such time, Schoolhouse Apartments must agree to continue the lease with the City of Bangor or make other arrangements to maintain the agreed upon parking space to tenant ratio. Committee Action Committee: Planning Board Action: Staff Comments & Approvals Meeting Date: November 17, 2020 For: Against: IY City Manager City Solicitor Introduced for: First Reading and Referral Finance Director CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE Date: November 9, 2020 Assigned to Councilor: Nichols 21-008 11/09/2020 ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, District Map, by changing the Parcel of Land known as the Schoolhouse Apartments addressed at 183 Harlow Street (Map 41, Lot 96) from Urban Service District (USD) to Downtown Development District Contract (DDD*). WHEREAS, at present, there is interest in renovating the apartments at the property known as the Schoolhouse; WHEREAS, in order to provide for a better buildout of units at this location, the uses and regulations for the DDD district are better suited; WHEREAS, the City Council has a goal to create more housing, specifically convenient to good and services; WHEREAS, the applicant has agreed to contract conditions to ensure adequate parking for the occupants; BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR AS FOLLOWS, THAT Chapter 165 of the Code of the City of Bangor is amended as follows: The Zoning District Map is hereby amended by changing the Parcel of Land known as the Schoolhouse Apartments addressed at 183 Harlow Street (Map 41, Lot 96) from Urban Service District (USD) to Downtown Development District Contract (DDD*), subject to the following conditions: A Schoolhouse Apartments shall maintain a parking space/unit ratio of 0.5 or better with onsite and offsite spaces. B. Schoolhouse Apartments will construct and maintain no less than 32 onsite parking spaces for tenant use. C. Schoolhouse Apartments will continue the terms of the leased off-site parking from the site of Bangor. This lease is valid through 2039, at such time, Schoolhouse Apartments must agree to continue the lease with the City of Bangor or make other arrangements to maintain the agreed upon parking space to tenant ratio. 21-008 NOVEMBER 9, 2020 Memorandum To: Honorable Bangor City Council Cathy Conlow, City Manager From: Anne M Krieg AICP, Planning Officer Date: November 18, 2020 CC: Tanya Emery, Director of Community and Economic Development Joshua Saucier, Assistant City Solicitor Jeff Wallace, Code Enforcement Officer Re: Planning Board Recommendation November 17, 2020 Map Amendment Contract Zone Change — 183 Har/ow Street Please accept this memorandum as the recommendation from the Planning Board for the noted item. The Planning Board considered this item in a noticed public hearing on November 17, 2020. The meeting was conducted using the city's Zoom account. The applicant, Brie LaCasse, for Community Housing for Maine (CHOM) presented the application, including their plans for the site. She reviewed the contract conditions which were: 1) Schoolhouse Apartments shall maintain a parking space/unit ratio of 0.5 or better with onsite and offsite spaces 2) Schoolhouse Apartments will construct and maintain no less than 32 onsite parking spaces for tenant use 3) Continue the terms of the leased offsite parking from the site of Bangor, this lease is valid through 2039, at such time, Schoolhouse Apartments must agree to continue the lease with the City of Bangor or make other arrangements to maintain the agreed upon parking space to tenant ratio.. Planning Officer Krieg reviewed the staff report. Her comments included: Downtown Development District is, as the title suggests, the district reserved for buildings in the downtown, whereas the Urban Service district is assigned to corridors leading to the downtown such as Main Street and State Street. Since the Comprehensive Plan in 2012, the business district in form and function has shifted and expanded, which is good news for the city. 73 HARLOW STREET, BANGOR, ME 04401 TELEPHONE: (207) 992-4280 FAX: (207) 945-4447 WWW. BANG ORMAINE.GOV CITY OF BANGOR PLANNING DIVISION PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL 183 Harlow Street The area around and including the library is an active space, and the connections to the Federal office building makes this block of Harlow Street more of a functional wing of the core business district. From a planning perspective, regardless of the application, the subject property can easily be considered part of the Downtown business district. Please note that it does show as USD in the Comprehensive Plan. Older plans show it as a school. Please note that there are restrictions to housing on the first floor in the downtown business district; however this portion of Harlow Street does not come under that restriction. Having housing here is great support to the business district. The benefits of the Downtown Development District include setback relief and release from parking requirements. The proposed contract ensures adequate parking will be in place for the proposed development. Staff sees no issues with the application. Please know staff is working parallel with this application for easements and parking leases. The Board passed a motion, by roll call, made by Member Shaw and Seconded by Member Meagher, to recommend to the City Council that the said contract zoning district change ought to pass. All members voted yes. Page 212 IN CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 9,2020 COrd 21-008 Motion made and seconded for First Reading and Referral to Planning Board Meeting of November 17,2020 Vote: 9 -0 Councilors Voting Yes: Davitt, Dubay,Fournier,Hawes,Nichols, Okafor, Schaefer, Sprague,Tremble Councilors Voting No: None Passed �- CltY'CLERK IN CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 23,2020 COrd 21-008 Motion made and seconded for Passage Vote: 9—0 Councilors Voting Yes: Davitt,Dubay,Fournier,Hawes,Nichols, Okafor, Schaefer, Sprague,Tremble Councilors Voting No: None Passed CIT CLE