HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-16 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 16, 5:15 P.M.
BED Members Present:Fournier (c),Davitt, Dubay, Schaefer, Sprague
Non-BED Members Present: Hawes, Okafor, Tremble
City Staff Present:Conlow, Emery, Krieg
Chair Fournier called the meeting to order at 5:15 P.M.
REGULAR AGENDA
1. Downtown Bangor Partnership Transition Update
Questions about board membership, interactions with businesses by staff, continuation of the
walking beat police officer downtown, Councilor Tremble noted as a taxpayer in the district he has
not received any outreach from DBP.
2. Short Term Rentals
Planning Officer Krieg provided an overview of the issue and context. Staff agree generally one
requirement should be registration and life safety inspection. Options include doing nothing, allow
in all districts with regulation and inspection, allow in only certain districts, allow only in owner-
occupied single- and two-family districts, or allow in an overlay district. Councilor Schaefer – like
owner occupied and idea of registry. Supports setting up boundaries to protect neighborhoods
and affordable housing. Councilor Davitt – supports owner-occupied, asked about doing the
inspection similar to how we would eventually do a full rental registration, so it’s
consistent/manageable. Councilor Sprague – do we have studies from small cities? How does
this fit with our comprehensive plan update/process? Does this get factored into assessment
(income production)? Councilor Schaefer – while it may raise value of property making income,
the properties around would probably face devaluation due to the impact of transient properties.
Can you do minimum stays (like 30 days, not every night) to limit impact of tourism on the
workforce/need for affordable housing. Councilor Tremble – what triggers that definition of short-
term, is it 30 days? Most communities see less than 30 days as short term. Can we look at how
other communities do it (like South Bend, people rent out 5 weekends a year). Staff will continue
gathering info and input and report back.
Councilor Schaefer moved to enter executive session at 6:02 pm, seconded by Councilor Davitt.
Roll call vote: Fournier: yes, Davitt: yes, Dubay: yes, Schaefer: yes, Sprague: yes
3. Executive Session – Economic Development – Property Disposition – 2 Hammond Street
(Map-Lot 042-188/189) – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (C)
Meeting adjourned at 6:14 pm.