HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-12-03 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes • BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, December 3, 2002
Meeting Minutes
Councilors Attending: Frank Farrington, Gerry Palmer, John Rohman, David
Nealley, Anne Allen
Staff Attending: Ed Barrett, Jonathan Daniels, Rebecca Hupp, Rod McKay,
Kate Weber
Others Attending: Sandy Blitz, Tim Woodcock, Andy Hamilton
Meeting convened at 5:03 p.m.
1. Consent Agenda
a. Residential Rehabilitation Loan, 236 Falvey Street.
b. Park Woods Deed Amendment.
c. Residential rehabilitation Loan Subordination.
� d. Ratification and Approval of Emergency Residential Rehabilitation Loans
The Committee approved the Consent Agenda.
2. Bangor International Airport Report.
a. Agreement with John Cashwell to lease hangar space in Building 464 for
storage of aircraft. �
b. Accepting and appropriating additional grant funds from the State of
Maine for the rehabilitation of Runway 15-33, taxiway K & M, and North
and South Hold apron.
The Committee accepted the agreement with John Cashwell and approved the
grant funds for rehabilitation. �
3. Discussion on activities and initiatives of the East/West Highway
Association.
Farrington asked about the standards that have been set for the highway.
Woodcock discussed the benefits of a divided highway, such as safety, efficiency,
and controlled access.
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Palmer commented that Congressman-elect Michaud clearly understands this
issue and has a potential for greatness in terms of recognizing and being a force
for some change to help the entire region.
Rohman thanked Blitz, Woodcock and Hamilton for their efForts. He said that he
appreciated that they are opening the eyes of people in the region to more than
the concept of the East/West Highway, to commerce, etc.
Blitz said that Bangor would be even more attractive to Northern Ireland with the
East/West Highway, because they are finding a comfortable place to do business
with, and one, which would help facilitate trade.
4. Discussion on potential expansion of the Maine Business Enterprise
Park involving lands recently released to the City through the exchange
with the University of Maine.
McKay discussed the parcels of land recently released to the City from the
University of Maine per an agreement. One possibility is subdividing land and
making it part of the Maine Business Enterprise Park, and the other possibility is
acquiring the area on top of the hill which currently houses a Penquis CAP
• daycare facility and a military training facility. Rohman defined the City's
ownership line on the map, and asked if he was asking the Committee to say
that they want to expand the Maine Business Enterprise Park. McKay said that
we could create additional development sites with recently acquired land, and
wanted to get the Committee's views.
Palmer asked to see the site for the access road for the Airport. McKay said the
latest plan from the Airport Master Plan comes from the end of the exit ramp of
I-95, along Northeast Cardiology, on either side of Hope House and connecting
to Maine Avenue. Palmer.asked if there was any thought of condos or high rises
in this area versus a commercial location. Weber said that since it is so close to
the Airport, the airplanes flying overhead would diminish the appeal of residential
housing.
Allen asked how this would interact with the University campus? McKay said that
the City granted 100 feet back from Texas Avenue as a buffer zone for the
University.
Nealley said that the University's proximity makes it more likely to have a
business park here, with potential internships for students. Palmer said that
the land is much more valuable than flat land or Northeast Cardiology's land, and
• should be marketed as such. He wanted to know the distance from the runway
to these spots and compare it with distances to Fairmount Park. Barrett said
� that this is in a high noise impact area. McKay said that this area is a little bit
further away from the runway than Fairmount Park.
5. Preliminary review of Grotto Bay Realty Trust development plans for
Telcom Drive.
McKay said that the City Council has an agreement with Grotto Bay Realty Trust
on Telcom Drive. The developer has given us preliminary plans and wishes to
get approval for the concept to proceed. The Committee's charge is to approve
the design of the building and the materials that would be used. At this point
the material is a new product, made from Portland Cement, ground sand,
cellulose fiber, additives and water. It is designed to look like wood siding.
McKay discussed the restrictions for Telcom Drive. He noted that this material
looks like wood clapboard, however it looks less commercial and more
residential. Weber stated that this is a new technology, and she is not sure how
successful the product's longevity would be. Allen wanted to know how this was
put up. Rohman said that this is designed to be used difFerently than clapboard,
and will be stacked on top of each other with a little reveal area. Barrett noted
that the City still owns land adjacent to this lot, and we need to review whether
this supports the investment that others have made in the area. Palmer said
• that he was concerned about handicap accessibility. Rohman said that the
entrance needs to be dressed up, and that it is a federal building and should
have clapboards. Daniels asked Rohman if the materials could be clapboard like,
rather than stacked. Rohman said the material is fine, it can look like clapboard.
Palmer asked about the durability of the product. McKay said it shouldn't be any
more brittle than wood siding. Nealley said it is not an issue of clapboard look,
that we should make sure it fits into the area, and not micromanaging the
building process, and asked about the developer's timeline. McKay said that the
developer wanted a preliminary review so that he can move forward and bring
the design before the Committee in two weeks for final approval.
Palmer agrees that we do not need to micromanage, however, there are some
other areas in the City where we should have been more involved in the design,
due to the image these businesses project in our City. McKay said that the City
Council adopted standards for Telcom Drive, which are not as stringent as the
Maine Business Enterprise Park.
Nealley expressed concern that we narrow down the design review and move
forward in time to for the developer to present this to the Planning Board.
Barrett said that the issues are overlapping siding, shutters on the windows and
a more impressive front entry treatment. If the developer says no, then we
� come back and discuss it with the developer. Rohman asked if these issues were
going before the Planning Board, to which Barrett replied no. Nealley said that
� the Committee should vote on the three issues. Neailey said that we should say
that some treatment around the windows is recommended versus specifically
stating that shutters are required. Palmer moved Nealley's recommendations.
Rohman said that we have dressing up of the window treatments, higher impact
on the front entrance, and overlapping on the clapboards to make them look
more like clapboards.
The committee voted to recommend the three items to the developer.
6. Executive Session — Proposal on tentative developer status associated
with redevelopment of Bass Park (tentative).
The Committee did not go into executive session.
The meeting was adjourned.
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