HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-05 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Monday, February 5, 2024 @ 5:15 PM
Penobscot Room, Lower Floor of Penquis CAP
MEETING MINUTES
City Councilors Present: Fish, Fournier, Hawes, Leonard, Pelletier, Schaefer,
Tremble, Yacoubagha.
City Staff Present: Collette, Krieg, Laurie, Stanicki.
Chair Hawes called the meeting to order at 5:57 P.M.
1. GRANDVIEW LOT HOUSING PROPOSAL DISCUSSION, Action
requested to provide staff direction
Development Director Anne Krieg presented the agenda item and described the
project proposal.
John Egan of Genesis Community Loan Fund presented to the Committee via
Zoom. Described public financing and other roles in the project.
Chair Hawes asked the Committee for any questions or comments.
Councilor Fournier stated that he thinks this is a great partnership and is in full
support of the project.
Councilor Pelletier stated that she is also in full support of the project.
Councilor Fish asked Egan if he sees any restrictions within Maine Housing
requirements that the City should be mindful of when further developing plans.
Egan responded that energy efficiency is a significant priority for Maine Housing,
that they do not allow fossil fuels, and that Federal Fair Housing Law needs to be
followed to secure funding from Maine Housing.
Councilors Schaefer and Yacoubagha both expressed support of the project.
Chair Hawes asked Krieg how much staff direction is needed from the Committee.
Krieg responded that the first step will be going through the zone change process
for the property, so staff will begin with that, with the Committee's support. From
there, staff will continue to work on different configurations of units and will present
to the Committee at a future meeting for feedback.
All Committee members in favor of the proposal.
2. RENTAL REGISTRY — DISCUSSION OF DRAFT PROGRAM, Action
requested to provide staff direction
Community Development Officer Robyn Stanicki presented to the Committee.
Gave an overview of her memo and added a description of updates to HUD funding
rules as pertains to community development projects, which she just attended a
training on.
Chair Hawes asked the Committee for any questions or comments. There were
none.
3. DOWNTOWN RE-DISTRICTING PLAN UPDATE, Action requested to
provide staff direction
Planning Officer Anja Collette presented to the Committee. Provided background
and an update on the downtown re-districting plan.
Chair Hawes asked the Committee for any questions or comments.
Councilor Pelletier asked if the fee is a requirement of being a property owner in
the special assessment district, or if it is optional. Collette responded that it is
required, but provides the property owner with additional benefits.
Councilor Fish asked if homes that are not currently included in a historic district
would be required to abide by historic district requirements under these changes
or if they would be allowed to opt in. Collette responded that they would be allowed
to opt in.
4. CO-LIVING LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CHANGES, Action requested
to provide staff direction
Planning Officer Collette presented the proposal.
Chair Hawes asked the Committee for any questions or comments.
Councilor Tremble asked how the conditional uses were selected. Collette
responded that the conditions themselves are the same whether the property is
located in a zone with co-living as a permitted use or in a zone with co-living as a
conditional use, but the zones for conditional use were chosen to align with the
allowed uses of boardinghouses in those zones. Commercial zones were chosen
for permitted use based on this housing type's likely usage by workers in
commercial areas.
Councilor Yacoubagha expressed full support for the proposal.
5. EXECUTIVE SESSION — 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C) — DISPOSITION OF
REAL PROPERTY OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, 1 /TEM, No action
requested
Councilor Schaefer moved to enter into executive session, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A.
§ 405(6)(C) — Disposition of Real Property or Economic Development; seconded
by Councilor Leonard. Roll call vote conducted—all in favor, none opposed. Motion
passed.
Public meeting adjourned at 6:34 P.M.
Meeting minutes respectfully submitted,
Sarah Maquillan
Admin. Asst.
C&ED