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Home My WebLink About2022-12-06 Planning Board Minutes � � a � I �� l�� ,ti� ,e � � �� .�1 �I l � W �IT� �F B�.�NGC71�.. P�..A�IV�]I['�G L31VI�IC]N F'LANNING BOARD TUESQAY, DECEMBER fi, 2022, 7:(�0 P.M. GITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3RQ FLOQR CITY HALL ALSO; ATTENDANCE VIA ZOC?IV� FIIIEETING MINUTES Board M�imbers Pres�nt; IK�:n� Huhn, Chair Reese Pe�l�ins, V'ice Chair Te� Br�sh Patricia Hayes D�on M�eac�her Jonathan Boucher CitY�taff Pres�ent; An�ne Krieg, Plann6�ng Officer Anja Gollette, Plannliing Analyst Brittanie Thom�s, Asst. City Solicitor Chair Huhn called the meeting ta arder at 7:Oa P.M. OTH�R �3USIN�SS 1. Compr-eh�ensive Plan Check-in and Publi�c Forum — Consultant I�eri C7uellett�e gave a presentatian on tlhe s�cond half of tlhe Comprehensive Plan policy and action recommendations — policies on mab�l�ty, th�e enviranment, facilit�es and services, �r�d arks �nd c�alture. auellette presented �Qlicy 23 on bicycle and pedestrian connectivity. Dominick F�izzo, 57 Leighton Street, pres�nted to the podium to provide camments— is asking the �City ta cansider a bicycle and pe�destrian committee as ain actlion, with a mission to adva�at�for a safe and inviting envir�nment for biking and walking, whether for recreation or transpmrtation; can accc�mplish this through Camplete Streets. Thinks we need a lacal committ�e. Anne Krieg nated there used t�o be a subcammitte� as part of Livable Gammunities„ can add this to the language. Member Brush supports this; thinks it will be increasingly imp�ortant„ especially with the advent c►f electric bikes. Thinks this will be a big thing 10 ye�ars fram now. �,Iso with climat� change taking more ar�d mQre hold over palicy, thinks this is a key item. Ouellette presented policy 24 on accomrr�od�ting al�ernative transpo�rtation modes and limprouem�ents to Cammunity Connector. Vice Chair Perkins commented on electric vehicles; states that it's badly needed right now. Son has a Tesla and when he comes tQ visit, the nearest �ch�rging station is at INalmart in Brewer. 73 HARL(�W�TREET,BA�Gt�R,ME 04401 TELEPHC3I`�E: (207� 992-4280 FAX: (2C�7) 945-4447 51�Jti�'V'J.BA�I�ORMAIi'�E.GOV City of B�ngor Planning Division Planning Baard�Vleeting Minutes —Tuesd�y, Decerr�b�r�i, 2022 An �unnamed citiz�n comm�nted and thought that were going to be new chargers at the Grmss Insurance building. Vice Clhair Pe�r�ins said that T�slas use d6fferent types of chargin� stations than ather cars and there aren't any here; mentione�d the chairger at th�e parking g�arage. Plannliing Arralyst �ollllette stated that th�e cha�rg�rs in the parking garage and across from tlhe library would be Level 2 chargers and may not serve lfeslas. Collefite an�d P�anning Qffic��r Krieg both stated that th�ere were Tesla charging stations �t the new Sfiarbucks going in on Broadway. Dominick commented on� bicycle parking; was glad to see bicycle racl�s at the new t�ans6t station but would like th�e City to think abcaut the pairking garag�e devating mc�re space t�o an �ncic��ed, secure space�for bik�es. Alsc� tha�ught it vvould be gaod to see a covered parking space somewhere to accommodate maybe 1fl bikes to make it rrnor� weath�;rproof. Vice �Ghair Perkins commented can tlhe bus service, see6�ng comiments from tlhe puk�lic about increasing the frequency af servic� ar�d houirs Qf�peratian. Has questions about ridership — isn't poor rid�rsl�ip the reason for �iec�easing hours? Krieg commented that tlhe�e was a slhortage of bus d�iv�rs �nd that's wlhy they had ta decirease services. Perkins and Huhn sa�id they thougl�t there was saimething last year about pacar ridership. Ouellette noted that the study they looked at was cansidering peoplle with shift work schedules and people that weren't able to use the bus due to limited hours� tlhese ch��nges may increase bus rid�rship. Sam� other s�rategies ma�y alsa inerease ridersl�ip. Krieg commented an the new designated bus sto� system; if peaple kmow what the s�chedulle is, peaple can rely can it mare for appointments and g�tting to work. Dominick Rizzo preser�ted tc� the podium and stated it's the chicken and egg type problem; if yau don't have the seruice, y�ou won't get the ridership. It's also about the mar�keting; some people in Main� pra�ably think it's a bus for paor peaple; �he City needs to market lit, maybe do some free days, pravlide same better scheduling, da something for smartphanes. The City ne�eds 7 days [of service]. Plannin� �0fficer Krieg stated she worked an the transit center committee- rt-�ad� it sa th�at there�n✓auld be si�ns to w4rk with smart bus�s ta t�ll people when buses would be airriving. Member uf tlhe public, Rita Ettlerr�an, presented t�o the p�odium�; didn't haue a car when she firs� moued here in 2[117. 4ne flf tl�e things that drew heir here was �he public bus system. Rode it up until this year and was p�re�ty great. 1Nas at me�tinc� last night a�nd was surprised t�o see that they were going from flag stops to desigr��ted stops; th�se m�y nc�t be the closest stops to where �eopl� need them. Ouellette commented tha�t these pallicies and actiain items are interrell�ated and work towards City's goal Qf being equitable and having transpoirtatian that's available to all City resi�dents. Ouellett� presente�d on th� policy rega�rding impllementing the recom�mendations Qf the regional clinnate action plan; 2nd pl�ase is looking to be completed in 2023. Preseinted palicy on suppairting agrieult�ural resourees; heard same frvm corr7mun�ity albo�t interest in cQmmunity garden�in�, in�reas��n� �Food s�ecurity, increasing sustainability by increasiing� local foad production. This would allaw far a variety af agricultural uses in rrrar� urbarr zor��es. Daminick Rizzo presented to padium; asked to maybe re-evaluate the cod� tr� �Ilow raised b�ds in esplanades. Curr�er�t code says you car�'t have anythir�g taller than 3 fe�t. Page z �, City of B�ngor Planning Division Planning Baard�Vleeting Minutes —Tuesd�y, Decerr�b�r�i, 2022 Krieg stated it was in the property maint�nance code and said staff woufd look at that. Member Brush stated that an issue witf� grawing yau�- own food waulVd be livestock product6an, especially with the �ight ta foo� movement. Chaliir Huhn �asked if C�uellette heard thlings abaut that fram the p�blic; C3uellette saic� that would invollve laoking at the za�ning a�rdinances ta see where th�at r�night be a nuisance; not every type of agriculture is appropriate for the �rban area. Member Qf the p�ablic, Suzette FurrQMnr, pr�ssnt�d to th� �odium to ask about�ardens �t the homeless shelters; ask�ed if there's b�een any discussion about that sa the ham�less people could try gr�ouving their own food. Krieg noted that those ar�e priv�te op�erations, they're not run by the City; there's n�thing preventing them frmm dair�g that today. There was same discussion about vacant land near the homeless shelter and whether it ca�uld be us�ed for a garden�. Duellette presented a policy on floodplain imanagement and sea level rise. Dar�ninick R,izzo mentioned issues wi�h tidal fl�oding of tl�� Kenduskeag Stream by tlhe parking garage; wauld like ta advocate for re-nat�uralizing thaf pa�rt afi the st�re�m; use it fior trails and tf�ings li4r� that. Mentian�d EPA r�vitalization proc�ram; Bangor was sel�ected to be a part af it to provide better access to water; this w�uld be a good study to loak into that. �hair Hul�n asked for clarification —the part [of the stream] that gc�es through the walls going througl� the City? Rizzo c�r�firmed thak's what he meant; maylbe would inv�olue narrowing it and I'andscaping. Meagh�r comrnented on policy 32, action E; would be cauti�ous about d�viating fram relying �on floodplain mapping from FEIVIIA; is a standardized pro�ess used by flood ��nsurance companies. I�rieg stated FE11/lA updates th�ir�flo�od insuirance maps on a somer�vhat regular basis; we'll probably get updated F�IVnA maps again saon. Meagher an�d Pe�rkins discussed FEIMA m�ps and the use of prc,jections; rrvhat to use for permitting. Krieg noted there may kae changes caming to the shoreland zoning law due ta sea level rise, so there may be cl�an�ges coming to floadplain regulations firom that. c�uellette present�ed policy �n prioritizin� einer�y effici�ncy and implemen�ing r�newable einergy measuires. INo corr�ments. Presented policy or� imp�ravin�� resources far B�n�or's Pulblic Health and �ommunity �e�vices Departm�nt. Ch�air Huhn agrees the City needs more s�pac+e far tN�is department and using ARPA funds for that may be a good use. Krieg stated that the Council lis still discussing the use of ARIPA funds. �hair Huhn and Krieg �iscussed the current location/�rental situation of tlhe de�artment. C�uellette presente�l policy on protectirrg drinkin� water supply a�nd infrastructure. �Jo ccamments an this pc�licy. Member Meagher c�ommer�ted on Policy 4Q, on tlhe paragraph narratlive rrot part�af the survey. Policy 40 is about public safety; would cl�aracterize pulblic s�afety as the preemiment responsibillity of government. Witht��ut public safety, yau d�r�'t have a ciailiz�ed society. Kno�nrs the pallicies a�ren't rank�d li�n order, but tlhinks this shauld be palicy#1. C�uellett� presented pr�licy 45 on a digital infrastructur�e stra�egy; �iscussed what an �s�et ma�nagement program is. M�rm�ber IBoucher asked about what type Qf prflgram they would Ibe using. Kr�eg and Collll�tte stated that this is an effor� already ur�derway; is a c�amplex softtinrare. pa�e sl� City of B�ngor Planning Division Planning Baard�Vleeting Minutes —Tuesd�y, Decerr�b�r�i, 2022 Krieg �iscussed the importance of including this in the comp plan �vein though it's alr�ady happening. Gollette mentioned that tlhe program is just being st�rted vvith a few departnnents right now, but tf�ere are plans to �xpa�nd it more in the future. 4uellefifie pres�:nfied �alicies 46 and 47 on hisfioric resources. V�ce Chair Perkins agrees w�th lisfiing m�re historic properties to protect some af the properties we have. Krie� noted that she's uworking e�n a BuildMaine �rQup t�o sp�onso�r legislation that would expand the hiistoric structur-e tax credit, which would provide more �ssistance to people. Dominicl� Rizzo presented to the podium; read sonne#hing stating that peopl�e in a historic district woulldn't be limited in liimprovements on their property unless they utilize fed�ral funding/tax �redits. Asked if this was true. Krieg stated tlhat the Nistoric Preservatio�n Comimissio�n does [aok at any exterior chang� on a proper-ty in a historic district. Vice Chair Perkli�ns discussed the dlifference between the City's I�cal historic �listrict and the National Register of Histaric Places. If a property is on th� �lational Register, it doesn't nec�ssarily have to do imore tlhings unles� a fo�n is taken out on the property- th�n it has to jump through mare hoaps. I�F it's on th� City's list, i� does have to abide by tlhe City's codes for hlistoric places. I�rieg and IF�izzo discussed a�dding a neighborlhaod to a historic district and the cc�sts invalved to people whQ live tlhere. �7uellette presented policy 48 on providing �mor� suppart for the �rts ir� Bangor. Chair Huhn asked if there were �lepartm�;�nts in tlhe City that alr�;ady did th6s; Krieg stated there's � �Cultur�l �Cammission that is staff�d by th�; Community and EconQimic Dev�lopm�nt D�partment. Du�llette apene�d the �discu�ssion to other Ipafi�ies th�t w�ren't discussed. Vice �hair P�rkins discussed marketing; thinks Bangor needs a marketing persain �r a imarketing� department. There was a great article in the news�aper this week �bo�t hc�w gangar is daing great things c�n horinelessness; !6 months ago they s�id we were dain�g a terrible jab o�n homelessr�ess. Thinks that's a failure on the City's part to �market itsel�. If you �o to the �rew�r wat�rfront and look across at Bangor, lit's amazing Ihouu much better it's gotten in 20 years. 1fh�ere are a lot of things we should be �daing a b�tter jolb of praimo�ing. Ouellette mentianed this is a stirategy recommended in this pllan and in the Ecanamic Development Str�tegy- to I�ave a camprehensive marketing s�rategy for the City, Daminick Ri,z�� mentioned age af the hausir�g stock and th�e percentage af h�uses built before 1930-�his number is d�creasing due to housing derrtolitians. Asks if the City would rec4nsider its �oliCy or� buildirrg demolitic�m fc�r historie buildings, even if they don't have laindmairlk statu� or aire nat in a historic di�trict. Camm�nted or� Poli+cy 19 on growing the region's recreationitaurism econamy; talked ak��ut bus se�vice between Bangar, Ellsworth, and Bar Harbor to alleviate traffic and cars in the park, and maybe b�ring mc�re p�ople tcr Bangor. For mobility recommendatians, nane af the policies mentlion ralil service to atlher communities. Even if it wan't happen until 10 years fram naw, this helps makin� it a reality if we talk ak�out it. Alsa has �u�s�ions about the process after this. Krieg discussed tl�e �imetablle; we're currently taking in everyone's feedb�ck and will p�ut aut another�draft, but are� also w�rking on an implementation plan at the same time, to set pr�iarities �nd assign things to different corrtmitte�es or gr�u�s. Chair Nuhn agre�d wit'h Dc�mini�k on the rail service, �o�h pass�nger rail ar�d �reight. Mentianed �enator Baldacci is warkin�g or� a bill to study it. pa�'� 4I5 City of B�ngor Planning Division Planning Baard�Vleeting Minutes —Tuesd�y, Decerr�b�r�i, 2022 Memb�er IVleag�her mention�d camments from a member of the public an prablems they v►rere havin� witl� their neighbars. Is th��re � rol�e [for the compr�h�en�sive plan] ta play o�r ar� tlhe City's ordinan�es adequate? Krie� stated that the Code Enfc�rceim�ent Officer do�es a goad job of ineeting with people informally to malke sure people's p�roblems are �resolved, but sometli�mes lit does get to the point where it becomes a IegaVcivil matter. Nleagh�;r alsca commented aboufi camplaints alaout yards not being mainfiained and noise complaints, Kriieg verified fihafi fihe �Code �nforcem€�nfi Offic�r could sfiep in in fihose sifivafiions. Krieg mentianed the clhallen�e af communi�a#ing all the informatian relat�d tc�, and refe�renced in, the policies and strate�g�ies. 2. Climate Plan Check-in — Planning A,nalyst �ollette gave an update an th�e climate actic�n plan- phase 1 is complete, final draft will be released any day. Phase 2 will begin early next year and will facus r�m str�tegies to mitigat� climat� change and to incr�ease tlhe r�egion's resiliency. UVill involve a majar public engagement effart and th��re will be � sfieering commififiee made up of sfiakeholders from across filhe reg�a�n fia help gu6de fihe pfan. 3. Meeting Minutes � • Septembe�r 27, 2022 Meeting Minutes o Member Meag�h�:r rriofiioned fia apprave, V6ce Cha6r Perkins secQnd�d. All in favor, nc�ne oppos�d, with Meimber Boucher abstaining. • C7ctober 4, 2022 M'e�ting Minutes o Member Brush mofiic�ned fio approv�:, Vic�: Chair Perkins secon�ied. All in �avo�-, nane opposed, with Member �Qu�her abstaining. • Nouember 1, 2022 Meeting Min�tes o Vice Chair Perkins mationed, Member Brush secanded. All in favor, none opposed. • Navember 15, 2022 Meeting IVlinut�es c� Vice Chair Perkins m�ade a cr�rrec�ion r�;�arding attendance via Zoom — i�was a�ttendance only on Zoom. '',✓ice �Chair Perkins move� t� accept th� minutes as amended, Member Brush seconde�. All in favar, nane apposed. 4. fi►djournment— N1ember Meag�her motioned to adjaurn. Vice Chair Ferk��ns s+econded. IVle�eting adjourned at 8:17 pm. R�espect�ully submitted, /`�nja �ollette, Planning Analyst Plannin� Division Page � ��