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Home My WebLink About1996-09-18 Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes COMMUNITY& ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Wednesday, September 18, 1996 @5:00 PM S MINUTES COMMITTEE PRESENT: Councilor Chris Popper,'Chair Councilor Pat Blanchette Councilor Charles Sullivan STAFF PRESENT: Edward A. Barrett, City Manager Rodney G. McKay, Director of Community & Economic Development T.J. Martzial, C.D. Housing Resources Coordinator John Lord, Planning Officer Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Officer Gary Jewell, Parking Supervisor Jeff Cammack, Bangor Fire Chief OTHERS PRESENT: Various Bangor Residents (See attached listing) The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair, Councilor Chris Popper, at 5:00 PM. � AGENDA ITEM#1 -Pearl Street- Petition to Return Traffic Flow to Two-Way between Garland Street and Mt. Hope Ave. Residents of Pearl Street spoke in support of designating two-way traffic with parking allowed on both sides of this street. They have not been happy with the present regulations which require one-way traffic with parking allowed only on one side. John Lord stated that the width of Pearl Street is 20 feet; the City's criteria is for 28 feet wide for two-way traffic and parking on one side. For two-way traffic with parking on both sides the street needs to be 36 feet wide. Bangor Fire Chief, Jeff Cammack, showed a video tape of Pearl Street whereby his staff performed a test at various points on the street to determine if there actually could be sufficient room for parking and two-way traffic. Their test showed that on-street parking interferes with emergency vehicles passing and setting up in a safe manner in case of a fire. A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the full City Council for first reading that two-way traffic be allowed on Pearl Street with no parking on either side. So voted. � 2/ • AGENDA ITEM#2 - Parking on Montgomery and Grant Streets Christine Fzewczyk, a resident of Montgomery Street, came before the Committee (at the invitation of Gary Jewell, Parking Supervisor)to relate her concerns with respect to St. Joseph's Hospital and their contractor's employees parking in her neighborhood all day, every day. She has personally spoken with Mr. Evans from St. Joseph's Hospital on this issue. He indicated to her that he has suggested to employees to consider parking on Essex Street and be shuttled back and forth to the hospital. However,they prefer the convenient parking near the hospital; legally there is nothing he can do. Christine suggested to the Committee that if a "resident parking only" sign concept were instituted by the City,the residents could all be issued stickers for their windshields and they could have 3-4 tags for their guests cars. John Lord, Planning Officer, stated that he has been in contact with officials at the hospital and they have indicated that they would get after the contractors in order to find places for parking off the streets. John stated that he has seen some temporary improvements over the past few weeks. Other residents from the area stated the same concerns as Christine Fzewczyk and indicated that even after the construction is done they feel there will still be problems with the employees parking in their neighborhoods;they do not trust the hospital to help in solving this • problem. Police Chief Harriman commented on the "resident only" parking suggestion. He stated that neighborhoods abutting EMMC had encountered the same situation. Realistically this method is very difficult to enforce as there are not the resources in the City's police department. A more viable approach would be "time limit" parking -two hours for example. This has worked well in the EMMC area but as Chief Harriman noted, may not be suited to the area surrounding St. Joseph's Hospital. Residents spoke in disfavor of the time limit parking as they do not see that it will resolve their problems with safety. They favor "Resident Parking Only" signs with strong enforcement by the police department. Rod McKay spoke to the Committee and residents stating that he recently met with Mr. Evans at St. Joseph's Hospital on the subject of prohibiting hospital employees and contractor employees from parking on and around the residential neighborhoods. Mr. Evans replied that he has been advised by the hospital's attorney that he could not take action against an employee who was parking their cars where legal parking is allowed. He further stated that the construction contracts were let before much thought was given to where parking would be provided; so there is no provision in the contract. A motion was made and seconded for Staff to draft a"residential parking only" ordinance � amendment with proposed boundaries(along with information on how other Maine communities handle the same situation) and to also invite Sister Norberta from St. Joseph's Hospital to attend the next C&ED meeting in an attempt to resolve this problem. So voted. 3/ . AGENDA ITEM#3 - Ordinance Amendment 96-372, Amending Sign Ordinance Dan Wellington presented to the Committee a"housekeeping" amendment to add a setback requirement for free-standing signs in the Neighborhood Service District. This has been to the C&ED Committee and City Council for first reading. A motion was made and seconded to approve this amendment as presented. So voted. AGENDA ITEM#4 - Code Enforcement Update Dan Wellington updated the Committee on the following: 1) current condemnations -- there will be 3 public hearings held by the City Council at their next meeting relative to this subject. In two of the cases, owners have begun work on their properties subsequent to receiving notices that these public hearings will be held. Videos of before and after conditions will be shown by Code Staff. 2) Update - DEP Grant for eliminating overboard discharges into the Kenduskeag Stream . To date Staff has removed 72 dwelling units from dischazging into the Kenduskeag Stream. By the beginning of winter, it is hoped to have this total up to 74-75. It was suggested that a media release as to the City's progress on this matter be forthcoming. 3) Odlin Road-Action by the City will be forthcoming on Land Use issues on the outer Odlin Road. Two development sites in the area between Odlin Road and I-95, owned by a Mr. Thomas and Mr. Butler,have been abandoned. They are significantly impacting the Odlin Road with • respect to right-of-way and there are erosion problems under the roadbed. Code Enforcement has contacted these owners and informed them that they have until Oct. 1 st to get their site plan certified; if they fail to do so, enforcement actions will begin. 4) Outer Hammond Street - Jim Ring petitioned the State this summer to consider abandoning a portion of the right-of-way on outer Hammond Street. The State declined to do this but they made a counter-proposal to create a 75 foot right-of-way inside the existing 125 foot right-of-way on the southeasterly side of Route 2, from the Oldin Road to the Hammond Street extension. This will allow the businesses on the left-hand side (going out Hammond Street extension)to use part of this right-of-way to install signage. The Code Enforcement Dept. has received a list of conditions from the State with respect to this. Staff approves this proposal; all of the businesses concerned have been notified as to these changes and they have responded favorably. Councilor Pat Blanchette inquired if the code problems with Arvilla Verceles have been resolved. Dan replied that he has spent 2 1/2 hours on site with her; he has not yet finished giving her the detailed list of violations. He further stated that due to the age of the property (104 years) he has suggested to Arvilla that she inquire about the Community Development Residential Rehabilitation Program to see if she would qualify. If she qualifies under the program's guidelines, she will be enable to get the emergency violations such as smoke detectors and repairing fire escapes completed. AGENDA ITEM#5 - Planning Update • No items to report. 4I � OTHER BUSINESS Gazy Jewell inquired of the CorxUmittee,regarding the cantractors permit for the library canstruction, that if the construction campany is gaing to be an site for more then the standard 3-days allowed would the Cornmittee wish that they be charged the $7 per day fee. Councilor Popper mationed and Cauncilor Blanchette secanded to recammend to the fiill City Council that the fee be waived. So voted. ACrENDA ITEM#6- Corrimunity Development Residential Rehabilitatiarz Loan- 1 Whitney Street, Single Farnily T.J. Martzial presented this loan request to the Cornmittee. A mation was m.ade and seconded to approve this loan as presented. 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