HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-16 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Monday, December 16, 2024 @ 5:15 PM
Penobscot Room, Lower Floor of Penquis CAP
MEETING MINUTES
City Councilors Present: Beck, Dean, Fish, Fournier, Hawes, Leonard, Mallar,
Tremble.
City Staff Present: Collette, Krieg, Laurie, Stanicki.
Chair Hawes called the meeting to order at 6:28 P.M.
1. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM— POSSIBLE
FUNDING OF CEDAR FALLS MOBILE HOME PARK
Community Development Officer Robyn Stanicki gave an overview of the agenda
item and the funding proposal.
Councilors Tremble and Leonard expressed support for the proposal.
Councilor Fish asked about the amount of the mortgage request — Community
Development Officer Stanicki responded that it is $500,000, and clarified the
process. City Manager Debbie Laurie provided additional clarification. Discussed
at length with Chair Fournier.
2. LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE
A. EXPLANATION OF RESIDENTIAL ZONES
B. TINY HOME PARK CHANGE
Planning Officer Anja Collette gave an overview of the agenda item and
summarized her written memo.
Councilor Fish asked for clarification regarding the reasoning for updating the
zoning — Planning Officer Collette responded and clarified.
Councilor Tremble expressed support maintaining a primarily single-family
housing zone.
Councilor Dean asked for clarification regarding the URD-2 zone— Planning Officer
Collette responded and clarified.
Councilor Fish expressed that the City has some responsibility for allowing some
of the illegal non-conformities, and suggested remedying this moving forward.
Development Director Anne Krieg responded and clarified staff's efforts to remedy
this.
Councilor Mallar asked about occupancy permits — Development Director Krieg
responded and clarified Code Enforcement's efforts in this area.
Councilor Beck presented a potential conflict of interests regarding the tiny home
park agenda item — Councilors discussed. Beck elected to excuse himself from the
meeting.
Planning Officer Collette presented an overview on proposed ordinance
amendment regarding tiny home parks.
Councilor Leonard expressed opposition to the allowance of short-term rentals in
tiny home parks.
Councilor Fish expressed support for the allowance of short-term rentals in tiny
home parks.
Councilor Dean asked about possible benefits of this allowance — Planning Officer
Collette responded that the reason for the proposed amendment was intended
mostly to make the rules for mobile home parks and tiny home parks consistent
and avoid confusion. Councilor Fish brought up several potential benefits.
Councilor Mallar asked for clarification regarding the 5-unit allowance for short-
term rentals — Planning Officer Collette responded and clarified.
Councilor Hawes expressed opposition to the short-term rental allowance.
Chair Fournier expressed support for the short-term rental allowance.
Councilor Mallar asked for clarification regarding ownership in mobile home parks
vs. tiny home parks — Planning Officer Collette responded and clarified.
Councilor Hawes expressed additional concerns regarding the effect on the
community of a tiny home park; discussed with Councilors and staff at length.
Development Director Krieg asked the Committee if they would like staff to work
on this proposal more — Chair Fournier confirmed.
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION — 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C), Disposition of Real
Property or Economic Development (2ltems)
Councilor Hawes moved to go into Executive Session pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. §
405(6)(C), seconded by Councilor Leonard. Roll call vote conducted — all in favor,
none opposed. Motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 7:05 P.M.
Meeting minutes respectfully submitted,
Sarah Maquillan
Admin. Asst.
C&ED