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Home My WebLink About1999-09-15 Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes • COMMUNITY& ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Special Meeting � Wednesday, September 15, 1999 @5:00 PM MINUTES � COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilor Aube Councilor Rohman Councilor Tyler Councilor Vardamis Councilor Palmer OTHER COUNCILORS PRESENT: Councilor Blanchette Councilor Crowley Councilor Baldacci STAFF PRESENT: Edward A. Barrett, City Manager Rodney G. McKay,Director of Community &Economic Development T.J. Martzial, Housing Programs Manager Sally Burgess, Business & Economic Development Officer Jim Ring, City Engineer Ron Heller, Finance Director • Norm Heitmann, City Solicitor OTHERS PRESENT: William Shanahan, Realty Resources Chartered Edith Stratton, Representative from St. John's Parish Donna Fichtner, Director of Convention& Visitors Bureau The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by Committee Chair, Councilor Aube. ITEM#1 - Acadia Hospital -Illinois Ave. Councilors Rohman and Crowley eYcused themselves from participating in this item due to conflict of interests. Rod McKay, Director of Community& Economic Development, stated that the purpose of this item is to obtain a lease amendment for the proposed expansion of Acadia Hospital's facility on Illinois Ave. This facility is adjacent to the City's Maine Business Enterprise Park. Representatives from Acadia Hospital also were present to review their proposed plans. Councilor Blanchette inquired if there were a site plan requirement for a screening buffer for the patients privacy. Staff responded that this concern would be included in the negotiations with Acadia. A motion was made and seconded to direct Staff to go forward with negotiations for a lease amendment with Acadia Hospital for eYpansion of their facilitt- on Illinois Ave. as presented. So voted. � r • G/ It was requested to hear Item#6 at this time. ITEM#6 - Lease Purchase Agreement with Bangor Gas - City Properly on Milford Street Norm Heitmann, City Solicitor, presented a request from Bangor Gas to enter a lease purchase agreement with the City for a city-owned lot on Milford Street. Bangor Gas proposes to construct a 24'xl6' building to house a regulator. The agreement would be for fair market value which would be contingent on the rezoning of the area to G&ISD and an amendment to the Land Development Code to have this as a conditional use. Norm also added that there will be an easement across City Property to connect Milford Street to Broadway. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval to the full City Council the lease purchase agreement and easement requirements as presented. So voted. ITEM#3 - Continued from 9/1/99 meeting -Review of Realty Resources Plans to Develop Multi-Family Housing on City Developed Parcel between Boyd and Newbury Streets Behind St. John's Church Rod McKay,reviewed this item to date stating that the City has a parcel behind St. John's Church between Boyd and Newbury Streets which Realty Resources Chartered has an option agreement on in order to build 32-34 units of housing (16 -2 bedrooms; 16 - 3 bedrooms). The C&ED Committee has the responsibility to approve these plans,with respect to its exterior treatment. Mr. Shanahan of Realty Resources Chartered,reviewed the site plans for this proj ect. • They would like to break ground and close on this property by the end of this year. Edith Stratton, business manager at St. John's parish, expressed on behalf of St. John's concerns with the Gridley Street access to the church, as they have been planrung on extending their parking lot next to the church. She added that they have not seen or been informed as to what exactly Realty Resources proposal involves. They want to be assured that there are no hazards as far as set- backs once construction begins which would detain access to the church or utilities for fire safeiy. It was suggested that perhaps a meeting between staff from Realty Resources and St. John's would be helpful; then bring this item back to the C&ED Committee for final discussion. ITEM#4 - Octoberfest Agreement-New Moon Technologies, LLC A motion was made and seconded to approve this agreement as presented. So voted. . ITEM#5 - Authorizing Lease beiween the City of Bangor as Lessor and Bangor Washington- Exchange Trust as Lessee The Washington-Exchange Street Trust, owners of 77 Exchange Street, wish to expand their parking lot and in order to optimize the parking that would be available,they have requested to lease land in the City's right of way on the Washington Street side of the lot. This would increase their parking capacity by approximately 10 spaces. Staff proposes to lease this area according to the City's prevailing surface rate of$35.00 per month per space with adjustments based on estimates of the tenant's construction and maintenance costs. Additional proposed terms were discussed. A motion was made and seconded to direct Staff to proceed with negotiations on set-back, buffer and landscape requirements. Staff will then bring the final • design back to Committee as part of the final lease agreement. So voted. , r • 3/ ITEM#7 - Maine Convention Center Committee Ron Heller, Finance Director, reviewed this item for the Committee stating that the purpose of the Maine Convention Center Committee (MCCC) is to improve the state's meeting and convention infrastructure. The state lacks the necessary convention facilities to compete for conference business on a national scale. Currently, a fund raising effort is being conducted by the Maine Convention Center's Bureau and the State Dept. of Economic and Community Development to undertake a study as to where and what type of ineeting convention assets ought to be placed in the state. The City of Bangor has been asked to contribute to this effort. The City of Portland has promised to contribute in the range of$10-25,000; Ron suggested that Bangor's effort should be in proportion to Portland's, given the relative populations. He recommended a contribution in the range of$10,000. Councilor Aube stated that the information provided was good but at this time he is not ready to make any recommendation to the City's Finance Committee until there is further detailed information. Ron stated that after the upcoming meeting with the MCCC he will have more to report such as the state's involvement and the exact amount of Portland's contribution. ITEM#8 - New Neighbors Program T.J. Martzial, Housing Programs Manager for Community Development, stated that a meeting was held recently with task force members to discuss what their direction would be in • promoting this program. It is the intention of this task force to contact the local banks and realtors with their ideas and to get their input as well. Councilor Crowley, as a member of this task force, added that it is hoped to also involve others in the community such as the media. ITEM#9 - Raise The Roof-HUD Project Rod McKay reviewed this item for the Committee. This is a HUD promoted project which has asked communities across the country to set aside one day to work on affordable housing-related projects for people in need. Staff suggested donating materials for volunteers to assist with painting at the Randolph Drive housing area. Discussion continued on what other projects may be more appropriate. It was decided that the City of Bangor will organize their own project and call it Bangor Raises The Roof day. A motion was made to go into Executive Session. ITEM#2 - Executive Session-Property Disposition A motion was made to go out of Executive Session. The meetin�was adjourned at approximately 6:00 PM. �