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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-18 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 5:15 P.M. May immediately follow other committee meetings City Council Chambers and via Zoom MEETING MINUTES Councilors Present: Schaefer (c), Hawes, Sprague Additional Councilors Present: Fournier, Yacoubagha City Staff Present: Bolduc, Emery, Collins, Krieg, Laurie, Theriault Chair Schaefer called the meeting to order at 5:15 P.M. 1. Commission on Cultural Development Grant to Bangor Symphony Orchestra Councilor Hawes moved Consent Agenda Item for the Commission on Cultural Development Grant to Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Seconded by Councilor Sprague. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. 2. PUBLIC HEARING - Community Development Public Hearing Regarding Use of Community Development Block Grant Funds for Upcoming Fiscal Year Councilor Hawes moved to open the Public Hearing regarding use of Community Development Block Grant Funds for upcoming fiscal year, seconded by Councilor Sprague. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Collins provided overview, as well as National Objectives. Second hearing scheduled for 04/05/2022, with Plan approval for 05/15/2022. Councilor Sprague moved to close the Public Hearing regarding use of Community Development Block Grant Funds for upcoming fiscal year, seconded by Councilor Hawes. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. 3. Bass Park Barns a. Action requested – discussion Theriault provided overview. Laurie suggested training opportunity for fire department. Councilor Hawes indicated that the fair has changed, look at opportunities to connect with the golf course, could use tents for agricultural part of fair. Councilor Sprague, unless we are committed to an exceptional fair, time to make better use of property, Councilor Schaefer concurred. Sell benches? Will start moving forward with clearing out and working with Fire for timing for controlled burn. Can touch base with agricultural people and let them know that going forward it’ll look different. Suggested to have considerable amount of PR in advance of any controlled burn. 4. Housing Update a. Update on State of Maine Commission to Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions Emery provided overview, process happening over the past year. Recommendations: 1). Accessory Dwelling Units - have already happened in Bangor. Can do more with publicizing this opportunity and helping understand what that means, 2). eliminate single family zoning districts in all residential zones across the state; 3) prohibit municipal growth caps on production of new housing (not applicable to Bangor); 4) technical & financial assistance to communities, 5) density bonuses; talked about this with the Affordable Housing Workgroup, not been brought forward yet – unintended consequences – parking standards looked at (biggest barrier); winter on-street parking 6) statewide incentive program (land use and zoning restrictions), 7) priority development areas 8) strengthening Maine’s Fair Housing Act by eliminating terms like “character,” “overcrowding of land”, “undue concentration of public.” (not a local issue, but will keep in mind) 9) state-level housing appeals board would review denials of affordable housing projects. b. Shared Housing (Boarding Houses) i. Action requested - vote to approve staff recommendation Krieg provided overview. All items will need to be adjusted at the same time, or there would be a ripple-effect within the Code. Shared Housing making a comeback as “dorm-style living”, housemates but private space as well, retired persons, downsizing, shared kitchen, common spaces. These are being built in other parts of the country as an affordable housing option. Review of parking requirements. Clarify term of boarding house, allow in URD-1 and LDR as conditional use, and allow by right (automatically) in historical districts and new construction, create additional housing units for more affordable options – will draft language once approval provided. Councilor Sprague asked how this differed from a group of young people becoming roommates and sharing an apartment or house. The City (and many life safety codes) do not regulate that as long as it’s five or fewer individuals – they’re considered a “family” for customary use of a dwelling. The issue becomes when it’s 6 or more persons, unrelated by blood, marriage, or adoption, sharing a dwelling unit, that exceeds the definition of “family” under the code. Krieg – essence is to create allowances for these uses in ways that don’t create conflicts in neighborhoods. Emery – for example, if you wanted to take your existing single-family home and, as an empty nester, have three roommates move in, that would be allowed now under our current rules, and would be allowed in the future. As long as you stay under 6 unrelated people, you are fine. However, over five people increases the intensity of use and the effects on the neighborhood, therefore those uses fall into different categories (such as a boarding house) and that use can and should be regulated differently than single-family homes. Under the regulations staff propose, if you were trying to do that in URD-1 or LDR (typically single-family home neighborhoods), you would now have to go to the planning board for approval as a conditional use, meaning your neighbors would be notified and have the ability to weigh in. As for boarding houses in historic homes and districts, those properties tend to be large and require a variety of uses to make their upkeep economically feasible in many instances. Staff also suggest allowing boarding houses in existing multi-family neighborhoods (URD-2, M&SD, NSD, HDR) makes sense because there are already multi-family uses allowed by right. (Note: Code currently defines FAMILY as (A.) One or more persons related by blood, adoption or marriage living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit, exclusive of household servants. (B.) A number of persons, but not exceeding five, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit though not related by blood, adoption or marriage shall be deemed to constitute a family, provided that the dwelling unit contains at least 150 square feet of usable floor area for each person.) Councilor Hawes moves to approve staff recommendation, Seconded by Councilor Sprague. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. c. Bed & Breakfasts i. Action requested - vote to approve staff recommendation Councilor Sprague moves to approve staff recommendation, Seconded by Councilor Hawes. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. d. Short-Term Rentals in Bangor and Policy Options i. Action requested - vote to approve staff recommendation Historic homes and districts – where do we want to actively encourage this? Family, size, etc. Allowing investment in dwelling to provide an income stream. Allowance for Downtown Development/Waterfront District – consideration warranted – number of these rentals are being used 22-29 days (approximately). Supports anecdotal information that there is a significant workforce component to this issue. Property types between single family and multi- unit properties. Common themes of comfortability with owner occupied, and inspection/registration. Connect this to the ED strategy and workforce issues. Update to 2019 Housing Plan in Comprehensive Plan. Inventory and analysis of existing housing stock, what types of subsidized housing? Owner occupied? Councilor Sprague moves to approve staff recommendation, Seconded by Councilor Hawes. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. 5. Community Development Block Grant loan to Penquis Family Housing (165 Griffin Road, Map R23 Lot 002-A) a. Action requested – vote to approve staff recommendation Well over $130,000 worth of improvements to be done to the property. Councilor Hawes moves to approve staff recommendation, Seconded by Councilor Sprague Vote unless doubted, no doubt. 6. Broadband Update a. Final ARP rules published January 2022, working on funding assessment and reference checks for RFP for February 2022 discussion Councilor Hawes motions to move into Executive Session at 6:22 P.M., Seconded by Councilor Sprague. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. 7. Executive Session Economic Development – Lease Negotiation – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (C) (see attached Confidential Memo) a. Action requested (in open session) – vote to approve staff recommendation Councilor Hawes motions to move out of Executive Session at 6:27 P.M., Seconded by Councilor Sprague. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Councilor Sprague moves staff recommendation, seconded by Councilor Hawes. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Meeting adjourned at 6:27 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Tanya L. Emery, Director, Community & Economic Development