HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-07 Planning Board Minutes
PLANNING BOARD MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021, 7:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS & VIA ZOOM
Board Members Present: Ken Huhn, Chair
Reese Perkins, Vice Chair
Ronda Hogan
John Kenney
Don Meagher
Lisa Shaw
City Staff Present: Melissa Bickford, Development Assist.
Anja Collette, Planning Analyst
Anne Krieg, Planning Officer
Josh Saucier, Asst. City Solicitor
John Theriault, City Engineer
Chair Huhn called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
Vice Chair Perkins suggested moving the order of agenda items, presenting items #2 and #3
(Site Development Plans). Member Meager motions for reordering of agenda items,
seconded by Vice Chair Perkins. All members in favor.
LAND DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
1. Site Development Plan - 721 Maine Avenue - Map-Lot 100-010 - Industry & Service (I&S)
District - Applicant, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center - Land Development
Permit Application for Site Development Plan for temporary reconfiguration of the COVID
Testing Site to allow for shared use of the site between Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical
Center and Bangor International Airport, at property located at 721 Maine Avenue, Map-Lot 100-
010, in the Industry & Service (I&S) District.
Tim Doak, AVP Facility Planning, Design and Construction at Northern Light Eastern Maine
Medical Center presented the item and provided the following:
One year ago, approval was received to construct temporary COVID testing facility on
“shuttle lot” at Bangor International Airport
Plan approved to utilize gate off Maine Avenue
Facility had not been in use since June 30, 2021
With latest surge, facilities are becoming overwhelmed, this and other testing facilities need
to be reopened
73 HARLOW STREET, BANGOR, ME 04401
TELEPHONE: (207) 992-4280 FAX: (207) 945-4447
WWW.BANGORMAINE.GOV
City of Bangor Planning Division - Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2021
BIA seeing record number of travelers, so main lot is full and will need to utilize shuttle lot
Agreement in place with BIA for alternative plan to share the site; applicant is wishing to
move forward with that plan at this time
New, temporary curb-cut off Godfrey Boulevard to provide adequate queueing for traffic to
enter the site, access the building, loop around, drive through,and exit back out onto Godfrey
Boulevard
Only change requested is for temporary access only
Will revegetate area when completed
Separatedby a line of jersey barriers
BIA able to resume use of the majority of the parking lot, keeping corner separate for test
functions
Vice Chair Perkins moves to approve the Land Development Permit for Site Development Plan
for temporary reconfiguration of the COVID Testing Site to allow for shared use of the site
between Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and Bangor International Airport, at
property located at 721 Maine Avenue, Map-Lot 100-010, in the Industry & Service (I&S) District,
The motion was seconded by Member Bazinet. All members were in favor, none opposed.
Motion carries.
For the second item, the applicant’s representative was not present, so the order of items was
changed to accommodate.
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND MAP AMENDMENT PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, by adding the Emergency Shelter
as currently defined to the list of conditional uses in the Government & Institutional
Services District (G&ISD)
Member Shaw advised that she is on the Board of Directors for the Bangor Area Homeless
Shelter and inquired if it was a conflict of interest. No Planning Board Members felt that this
was a conflict.
Planning Officer Krieg presented the item and provided the following:
Reviewed proposed change as a “conditional use” and provided the definition of
“Emergency Shelter”
Conditional Use is a permitting process where the Planning Board looks at other items
(location, neighborhood fit, etc.)for a higher level of scrutiny
Currently, no districts allow “Emergency Shelters”
o Two definitions were created in 2013 –“Transitional Housing” and “Emergency
Shelter”
Page 2 | 7
City of Bangor Planning Division - Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2021
o “Transitional Housing” was on a different vote, and was passed, and now allowed in
Government & Institutional Service District (G&ISD)
o “Emergency Shelter” vote was on a separate vote, and lumped in with another vote,
which failed in 2013
Was being offered in the Urban Service District (USD) and City didn’t feel that
was in the best place
o All of the shelters that are zoned that way, (e.g. Hope House), became a non-
allowed use
o You can exist as non-conforming, but can’t make changes because that use is no
longer allowed
Planning Board will vote in the form of a recommendation to City Council if something
“ought to pass” or “ought not to pass”. City Council will have the final decision.
The following public comment was provided:
June Comeau; 453 Essex Street
o Owned property 45 years
o Concern regarding condemned building at 472 Essex St, which has since been
restored
o Concern why an “Emergency Shelter” would go behind a school (Mary Snow
School)
Concern with safety in general (children, teacher, overall safety in Broadway
& Essex Street area)
o Concern of home depreciation
Ann Davis Lanford; 12 North Park Street
o St. Joseph Hospital has been purchasing properties in her area
Worrisome now that she’s hearing “shelter”
o Increased foot traffic in her neighborhood
o Concerned about property values
o Owned property since 1981
David Green; Dunning Boulevard
o Discussed issue with 6 neighbors, all do not support this proposed change
o Bangor has become a magnet for homeless population
o Regional approach should be taken
o Approving this change would ensure more homeless come to the area
o Campers behind his property on the UMA Bangor Campus
o Wants us to take care of our own, and not attract people from outside Bangor, or
Maine
Page 3 | 7
City of Bangor Planning Division - Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2021
David Rogers; Parkview Avenue
o Inquired about other shelters in the City for spousal abuse, natural disasters
Tyson Cartwright; Dunning Boulevard
o Property owner 20 years
o Provided photographs for the Planning Board (from April 2021)
o Tent City behind the Hope House, have camped out in his back yard, trespass orders
issued by the Police Department
Alcohol bottles, fecal-soiled shorts, syringes all have been left behind
Used camouflage to blend in with the woods
Happened since Ramada Inn has been in active use
Available beds aren’t being used
Embarrassing to have homeless encampment in back yard, not fair
o Problem is bigger than the facilities themselves
o Tax payer, homeless people do not pay taxes
o Deal with existing problem and don’t pour more fuel on the fire
o Enforce existing laws in order to preserve the City we live in
o They’re coming here because they’re getting something for free, “and that’s not the
way we are here in Maine”
Henry Lanford; North Park Street
o Homelessness is a problem, not as simple as going to a shelter
o Seems like we’re attempting to put something into the Code to permit a future legal
place for a homeless shelter
o Develop more compassion for the homeless people that make problems
Martha; 1595 Ohio Street (via zoom)
o Wants to know why something would be put out at the intersection of Davis Road &
Ohio Street
Geoff Gratwick; 1230 Kenduskeag Avenue (via zoom)
o Staff deserves praise, materials presented was the best he’s almost ever seen
o How do we best serve needs of this needy group?
Ethical issues, have to be compassionate
o Expanding the definition of “Conditional Use,”
o Imperative to be on an arterial route, with transportation, not close to wild land (to
allow those to camp)
Who will enforce this?
Page 4 | 7
City of Bangor Planning Division - Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2021
Rebecca MacAulay (via zoom)
o Strong need for emergencyshelters
Schools in many locations
Most high residential areas
o “NIMBY” problems
Increase of property crime
o More social supports in place are needed
Daily programming availability
o Seems that the language could be more specific with provisions of “all or nothing”
approach
More consideration as has been done with previous amendments
Needs to be an intelligent design, appreciates the complexity
Daryl; Otis Street (via zoom)
o Has lived on Otis Street next to Cohen School for 23 years
o Beautiful, quiet neighborhood
o Opposed to this passing
Consider the children and highly residential neighborhood
Temporary shelters will come back to bite people and they’ll end up leaving
(the area)
Doug Marchio (via zoom)
o Not in favor of this proposal
o Have a common boundary with one of the parcels in question, stretching down to the
Kenduskeag Stream
If the parcel next to him was used for an emergency shelter, it would encourage
encampments on the stream
o Needs to be a statewide solution so you can control the migration
o What percentage of people homeless are from outsideof Bangor?
Public Comments were closed at 8:24 P.M. Member Shaw motioned for continuance of public
hearing to September 21, 2021, seconded by Member Kenney. No further discussion and all
members in favor.
3. Site Development Plan - 657 Broadway -Map-Lot R41-030 - Shopping & Personal
Services (S&PS) District - Applicant/Owner; GPH Properties, LLC c/o Greg Hawes, Agent;
Kiser & Kiser c/o Jim Kiser, PE- Land Development Permit Application for Site Development
Plan for proposed new construction of 1,750 sq. ft. retail cannabis store and 1,750 sq. ft. retail
store at property located at 657 Broadway, Map-Lot R41-030, in the Shopping & Personal
Services District.
Page 5 | 7
City of Bangor Planning Division - Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2021
Jim Kiser, representative for applicant GPH Properties, LLC, presented the item and provided the
following:
Amatos was an unfortunate casualty of COVID
Looking to put a retail cannabis store in, other portion still to be determined at this time
Currently has another operation in the City
Site will be kept similar to how it is now
o Move building to maintain 300’ from daycare
o Reduction of impervious area
Still over the ISR for the zone, even with efforts to downsize
o Putting in off-centered ridge roof
2/3 or more of stormwater from roof will go into the back of the building
Will collect in stone filtration system that fits into the foundation, providing
treatment for stormwater going into Arctic Brook
o Team up on utilities between new Dunkin’ facility for electric
Member Shaw inquired about provision regarding firewall. Kiser stated it’s required as a separate
use in terms of building code – allows cannabis retail store in back portion of building to stay
outside of 300’ radius. Firewall makes it two separate buildings, which will be taken care of
through Code Enforcement.
Vice Chair Perkins moves Land Development Permit Approval of Site Development Plan for
proposed new construction of 1,750 sq. ft. retail cannabis store and 1,750 sq. ft. retail store at
property located at 657 Broadway, Map-Lot R41-030, in the Shopping & Personal Services
District, seconded by Member Shaw. All members were in favor, none opposed. Motion carries.
OTHER BUSINESS
4. Comprehensive Plan –
Planning Officer Krieg advised that she had met with the Commission on Cultural
Development,which went well –integral piece for culture and economic vitality.
Briefly discussed the completion of the I-395 interchange, and what that will do for Bangor,
as well as implications for Main Street, Odlin Road, and Outer Hammond Street.
5. Meeting Minutes - August 17, 2021 Meeting Minutes for Review – Vice Chair Perkins
was in attendance. No other changes/additions. Member Shaw moves approval pending
addition for attendance, seconded by Member Bazinet.
Page 6 | 7
City of Bangor Planning Division - Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2021
ADJOURNMENT-Meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa L. Bickford
Development Assistant
Planning Division
Page 7 | 7