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Home My WebLink About2021-10-05 Planning Board Minutes PLANNING BOARD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021, 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIA ZOOM MEETING MINUTES Board Members Present: Ken Huhn, Chair Reese Perkins, Vice Chair Michael Bazinet Ted Brush Don Meagher City Staff Present: Anja Collette, Planning Analyst Anne Krieg, Planning Officer Chair Huhn called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND MAP AMENDMENT PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Zone Change – 206 Birch Street – Map-Lot 053-088 – from Urban Residence 1 District (URD- 1) to Urban Residence 2 District (URD-2) – Applicant: Bradley A. Dolan; Agent: The Masiello Group c/o Ansley Moore - To amend the Land Development Code by changing a parcel of land located at 206 Birch Street, Map-Lot 053-088 from Urban Residence 1 District (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 District (URD-2). Said parcel of land contains 0.18 acres. Applicant: Bradley A. Dolan; Agent: The Masiello Group c/o Ansley Moore. Ansley Moore, agent, representing the applicant presented the following in part and in substance: Applicant found that it was zoned URD-1, and one unit has been owner-occupied Similar properties in area doing the same thing Highest and best use of property would to be to utilize as a duplex No changes to the property pending, just the change in zoning Property is on the market at this time Unidentified property owner, who lives adjacent to the property spoke, asks that someone put some property markers on the site. No problems with the change, but bought property 20 years ago and the gentleman that sold it to applicant, two tenants with dog that use their yard for their business. Requesting to have a property marker as tenants come and go to distinguish the property boundaries, not sure how to go about having this done, or if it’s a possibility. Property owner wants to have applicant do this as part of the zone change. Planning Officer Krieg explained role of planning board on a zone change application, the issues raised are civil matters, recommending considering making sure where the property boundary is – board isn’t empowered to require a survey of the property. Property owner 73 HARLOW STREET, BANGOR, ME 04401 TELEPHONE: (207) 992-4280 FAX: (207) 945-4447 WWW.BANGORMAINE.GOV City of Bangor Planning Division Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 5, 2021 concerned about future animals at the residence, and not maintain property lines/boundaries. Real estate agent will make contact with this individual. No additional proponents, no opponents. No staff comment. Member Meagher moves recommendation to City Council to amend the Land Development Code by changing a parcel of land located at 206 Birch Street, Map-Lot 053-088 from Urban Residence 1 District (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 District (URD-2). Said parcel of land contains 0.18 acres. Applicant: Bradley A. Dolan; Agent: The Masiello Group c/o Ansley Moore, seconded by Member Bazinet. Huhn, Bazinet, Brush and Meager approved, Perkins, opposition. Per Vice Chair Perkins, concerns on this issue of singularly moving properties from URD-1 to URD-2 in zones that are otherwise URD-1, recent research and feels that this is spot zoning. Feels like this is a slippery slope doing this again and again. Why didn’t we just turn all of URD-1 into URD-2? There will be spot zoning in these areas if we continue the way we are. 2. Zone Change – 350 Union Street – Map-Lot 033-011 – from Urban Residence 1 District (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 District (URD-2) – Applicant: Christina A. Murphy, Chee Sing Lee, and Pamela Murphy - To amend the Land Development Code by changing a parcel of land located at 350 Union Street, Map-Lot 033-011 from Urban Residence 1 District (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 District (URD-2). Said parcel of land contains 0.33 acres. Applicant: Christina A. Murphy, Chee Sing Lee, and Pamela Murphy. Applicant, Christina Murphy presented the following in part an in substance: Convert barn, maintaining existing floor plan Footprint large, asking to move from URD-1 to URD-2 Neighbors next to us from the 60’s provided a letter of support Spot zoning might be necessary, adjacent to historic homes, but not in the district – 4-plex, 10-plex and duplex - working with Bob Kelly with House Revivers, putting a lot of work into the house Master plan to create multigenerational housing in their forever home Planning Board reviewed letter of support from property abutter. No proponents, no opponents. No staff comment. Vice Chair Perkins moves recommendation to City Council to amend the Land Development Code by changing a parcel of land located at 350 Union Street, Map-Lot 033-011 from Urban Residence 1 District (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 District (URD-2). Said parcel of land contains 0.33 acres. Page 2 | 5 City of Bangor Planning Division Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 5, 2021 Applicant: Christina A. Murphy, Chee Sing Lee, and Pamela Murphy, seconded by Member Meagher. Huhn, Bazinet, Brush and Meager approved, Perkins, opposition. Vice Chair Perkins states entire block zoned URD-1, and that’s why his vote is “no.” This goes back to the issue of data, and we don’t have good data. OTHER BUSINESS 3. Follow- up from City Council action regarding the previously proposed emergency shelters Land Development Code change Planning Officer Krieg provided the following in part and in substance: Council accepted recommendation and turned down request for text amendment change, and that the Planning Board would be looking at the language more closely Direction from Planning Board as conditional uses – what do they want to see Reviewed other communities, Ft. Worth only will allow in Downtown Districts. There are a lot of options – some communities do separation to each other (not uses), so they’re not congregated in one spot. 300’-1000’, that’s another option o Facilities in corridors or industrial areas? Would this be harmful to the population that we’re trying to assist? o Consultation with someone that could address this question? Clergy, police What are we trying to accomplish by adding more requirements on what would be a good project for an emergency shelter? Public transportation Not located near schools Not all shelters located together Scope of the problem? o 1,200 people How many are from Bangor? Planning Officer Krieg can locate some State-level data Same individual that spoke earlier (still unidentified) – asked how to identify someone to come to one of these meetings, individual use to work with the City, and is now working with Penquis CAP. Believes that we’re familiar with this individual and she will reach out to him. “Lisa” sees this, works part time as a driving instructor. Increased homeless, scattered throughout Bangor. Not all of these people addict, they’re all getting labeled that way. Some are teenagers. Run away from a bad home situation, we should be helping them first before they turn to drugs and alcohol. 4 substance rehabilitation centers in the Millinocket area. Owns a single-family home, seeing them on both ends of the street with their litter. On the fence, pro and con. Page 3 | 5 City of Bangor Planning Division Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 5, 2021 Understandthat there are two sides. Would like to see help for them, doesn’t want it on my property or in my yard. With Governor Mills, she just announced on the news $50 million to address the homeless for the State of Maine, divided through the Cities. Someone should reach out to her office, should be at least $1 million dollars going to each town. Bangor should try to get some of that money. Every time I take out a student, I see more and more. More tents over by Maane Public Broadcasting, Kenduskeag Avenue, Cross Center, Hammond Street and off ramps. It’s depressing, I do feel bad – also, they’re leaving litter which is another downfall. More litter in Corporate Drive, Texas Avenue. Robert, 144 Fourteenth Street spoke – agree that the industrial side of things could help get employment, concerned about harmful chemicals – lot less zones than the first run around – spread it out by the mall area as there is a Hannaford. Are they able to get food? Are they able to get to social service offices if they’re needed? 4. Comprehensive Plan Updates a. Report on Recommendations Implemented from the 2019 Affordable Housing Work Group o Work that the City is doing is listed in the table; many done, more to do o Rental Policy Still an active project, vacation/short term rentals Company hired to obtain data on vacation/short term rentals Received documents from them, will be assembling a report to present to Council and the Planning Board to obtain feedback o Increased density will bring down costs for unit, less parking, more multi-family homes, more full-two story buildings (implications for building height?) Input from an expert that can quantify how these increase-density options bring down the per-unit cost of a dwelling? 4-unit vs. single unit o Financial Programs to assist with process (via the City) o There are some neighborhoods that should maintain single-family neighborhoods Derelict buildings that are vacant Renovate and bring to livable standard Wasted resources b. Update on Walk Audit - AARP Livable Communities Program – get people outside, walking in neighborhoods, and writing down what they see – great effort to obtain information from people – get people involved in Comprehensive Plan process o Month of October o Email materials to forward to others, try to get people walking their neighborhoods, hopes that we have a good participation o Generate public interest o Web version Page 4 | 5 City of Bangor Planning Division Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 5, 2021 5.Meeting Minutes –September 21, 2021 Meeting Minutes for Reviewwere inadvertently omitted from this week’s materials, they will be reviewed at the meeting of October 19, 2021. 6.Adjournment7:56 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Melissa L. Bickford Development Assistant Planning Department Page 5 | 5