HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-08 22-005 ORDINANCE22-005 11/8/2021
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Council Meeting Date: November 8, 2021
Item No: 22-005
Responsible Dept: Planning
Action Requested: Ordinance/Map Change Map/Lot: 035-019
Title, Ordinance
Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, District Map by Changing the Parcel of Land addressed at
76 Patten Street from Urban Residence 1 (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 (URD-2)
Summary
This ordinance amendment would change the zoning on a parcel of land addressed at 76 Patten Street from
Urban Residence 1 (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 (URD-2). The applicants are Nate & Chloe Lewis of 9 Deer
Pond Lane in Bangor.
The lot currently contains a 2-unit building, and the owners desire to replace that building with a new duplex.
This zone change would allow them to do so and conform with zoning requirements.
The Comprehensive Plan shows the lot is as URD-1, and the neighborhood contains a mix of zoning that is
mostly URD-1 with some URD-2 with most of the neighborhood having 2-unit buildings.
Committee Action
Committee: Planning Board
Action
Staff Comments & Approvals
Meeting Date:
November 16, 2021
For: Against:
Referral to the Planning Board meeting of November 16, 2021.
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City Manager
Introduced for: First Reading and Referral
City Solicitor
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Firrance Director
22-005 11/8/2021
CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE
Date: November 8, 2021
Assigned to Councilor:
ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, and District Map by Changing the Parcel of
Land addressed at 76 Patten Street from Urban Residence 1 (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 (URD-2).
WHEREAS, at present, the area contains multi -family residences and is conveniently located to goods and
services;
WHEREAS, the lot currently contains a 2-unit building, and the owners desire to replace that building with a
new duplex;
WHEREAS, this zone change would allow them to do so and conform with zoning requirements;
WHEREAS, while the Comprehensive Plan shows the lot is as URD-1, and the neighborhood contains a mix of
zoning that is mostly URD-1 with some URD-2, the neighborhood contains mostly 2-unit buildings; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has specific goals to encourage affordable housing and multi -family housing
where appropriate;
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 changed by changing the parcel addressed at 76 Patten Street and as
shown on Map 35, Lot 19 from Urban Residence 1 (URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 (URD-2).
COMMUNITY &ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF BANGOR
PLANNING DIVISION
Memorandum
To: Honorable Bangor City Council
Deb Laurie, Acting City Manager
From: Anne M Krieg AICP, Planning Officer
Date: November 17, 2021
CC: Courtney O'Donnell, Assistant City Manager
Tanya Emery, Director of Community and Economic Development
Joshua Saucier, Assistant City Solicitor
Jeff Wallace, Code Enforcement Officer
Planning Board members
Re: Planning Board Recommendation November 16, 2021
Zone Change — 76 Patten Street — Map -Lot 035-019 — from Urban Residence 1 District
(URD-1) to Urban Residence 2 District (URD-2) —Applicant: Nate & Chloe Lewis o/b/o
Louie Lewis Properties, LLC.
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 16, 2021.
The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Members in attendance were the
Chair, Ken Huhn, and Members Reece Perkins, Lisa Shaw, Don Meagher, John Kenney and Ted
Brush.
The applicant, Nate Lewis, presented the application. He clarified the request that he is seeking to
place an additional 2 family dwelling on the lot, which would be allowed in the URD-2. Please note the
Council Order needs to be corrected to this effect.
The Board discussed development options for the property with the applicant.
The Board discussed the appropriateness of the request. Member Perkins indicated the Board is
compelled to adhere to the Comprehensive Plan and this property is shown as URD-1. He also
reviewed the definition of spot zoning and noted these requests are spot zoning, requests that the city
should not allow. He added that the Affordable Housing Workgroup indicated the city needs to do a
housing inventory which hasn't been completed. He noted that this neighborhood could become
URD-2, but it shouldn't be done piecemeal. He further noted that the applicant could put in a dwelling
with an Accessory Dwelling Unit and the city put in the ADU policy for this purpose. The creation of an
additional unit with this change does not justify spot zoning or going against the Comprehensive Plan.
Member Perks also cautioned that a precedent may be set with these reviews.
Other members opined that they understood Member Perkins concerns. They countered that the city
has started a Comprehensive Plan and the process and implementation will take time, and notably,
Member Meagher did not want to hold up people from creating units in the meantime.
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
76 Patten Street
Other members noted that the Comprehensive Plan is out of date and that this neighborhood has a
lot of non -conforming homes (that is dwelling with more than one unit). Other members added that
the City Council has indicated the need to create units where feasible and reasonable. The
designation of URD-2 brings many lots into conformity.
When asked, staff did not make a definite recommendation but rather reiterated some of the
comments made by others. This included that the Affordable Housing Plan does indicate the city
needs to create units and also that we are in a limbo period of an out of date Comprehensive Plan. It
is also a compelling argument that this limbo period should not limit people from requesting zoning
changes. Staff also indicated to the Board that there is no precedent with zoning requests — they
should be reviewed on their own merits, and additionally, if the change is not granted, there remains
some use to the property.
Upon further reflection after the meeting, spot zoning is always a planner's concern with zone
changes. It should be noted that lots proposed to be rezoned that, in part, bring them into conformity
helps the argument supporting a lot by lot analysis. Bringing lots into conformity where it make sense,
and also adds to the housing stock, is current good planning practice. Further, the period between the
ending of a Comprehensive Plan and the process for rewriting a Comprehensive Plan is difficult and
awkward; however as long as the city is diligently reviewing the application, having these
conversations as part of the public process, then this period need not be seen as negative. The
recent date (2018/19) and acceptance of the Affordable Housing Workgroup recommendations assist
in supporting land use policy for residential districts.
After a good discussion amongst the members, Member Brush made a motion, with a second from
Member Shaw, to recommend to the City Council that the zone change ought to pass. The motion
carried with Huhn, Shaw, Kenney, Meagher and Brush in favor and Perkins dissenting.
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Page 212
IN CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 8, 2021
COrd 22-005
First Reading and Referral to Planning Board Meeting of November 16, 2021
CITY CLERK
IN CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 22, 2021
COrd 22-005
Motion made and seconded for Passage
Motion made and seconded to Postpone Indefinitely
Vote: 7 – 0
Councilors Voting Yes: Hawes, Okafor, Schaefer, Sprague, Tremble, Yacoubagha, Fournier
Councilors Voting No: None
Passed to Postpone Indefinitely
CITY CLERK