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