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Home My WebLink About2025-03-03 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Monday, March 3, 2025 @ 5:15 PM Penobscot Room, Lower Floor of Penquis CAP MEETING MINUTES City Councilors Present: Dean, Fish, Hawes, Leonard (via Zoom), Mallar, Pelletier. City Staff Present: Collette, Hanscom Bilotta, Hernandez-Smith, Innis, Krieg, Laurie, Saavedra, Stanicki. Chair Fournier not in attendance — Councilor Fish recommended that Council Chair Pelletier serve as Chair for this meeting. Seconded by Councilor Mallar. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Motion passed. Council Chair Pelletier called the meeting to order at 6:37 P.M. 1. LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE, Action requested to forward recommendation to Council A. CHANGES TO LAND DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PROVISIONS B. EMPOWERMENT TO ENTER IN A CONSENT AGREEMENT FOR ENFORCEMENT C. PARKING SETBACKS IN URBAN RESIDENTIAL — 1 (URD-1) AND URBAN INDUSTRY DISTRICT (UID) Planning Officer Anja Collette presented to the Committee and gave an overview of proposed changes to Land Development Permit provisions. Councilor Fish asked about the proposed 90-day timeline — Planning Officer Collette responded and clarified. Councilor Mallar expressed that he did not feel this change would be necessary. Councilor Leonard asked about the minor subdivision process — Collette responded and clarified. Leonard asked about the potential impact on the public hearing process if there are fewer meetings involved in re-approval process — Collette responded and clarified. Development Director Anne Krieg provided additional clarification regarding the subdivision process. Fish asked if this has been presented to Planning Board yet — Collette responded that she will be presenting this at the next Board meeting. Councilor Fish expressed concern regarding the proposal to not allow applicants with open Code violations to apply for Land Development Permits. Council Chair Pelletier and Councilor Leonard expressed support for the proposal. Councilor Hawes confirmed majority of Councilors in support of the proposal. Planning Officer Collette discussed addressing the concerns of Councilor Fish. Councilor Mallar asked for clarification regarding the approval process for these changes. Councilor Hawes and Planning Officer Collette responded and clarified. Councilor Hawes moved to forward recommendation regarding changes to Land Development Permit provisions to Council. Vote unless doubted, no doubt. Motion passed. Planning Officer Collette gave an overview of the request for empowerment to enter in a Consent Agreement for enforcement. Councilor Leonard moved to forward recommendation regarding empowerment to enter in a Consent Agreement for enforcement to Council, seconded by Councilor Fish. Councilor Mallar asked for clarification regarding consent agreements and the property maintenance code — Planning Officer Collette and Development Director Krieg responded and clarified. Roll call vote conducted — 5 in favor, 1 (Councilor Mallar) opposed. Motion passed. Planning Officer Collette gave an overview of proposed changes to parking setbacks in the URD-1 and UID districts. Member of the public Carol Cutting presented to the Committee and expressed opposition to the proposed changes to parking setbacks. Councilor Fish asked about how many residential properties this change may impact. Planning Officer Collette responded and clarified that this would only apply to new development. Councilor Dean asked for examples of which neighborhoods fall in these zoning districts — Collette responded and provided examples. Councilor Mallar asked for additional clarification regarding parking requirements — Collette responded and clarified. Councilor Leonard moved to forward recommendation regarding parking setbacks in URD-1 and UID to Council, seconded by Councilor Hawes. Councilor Fish requested additional information— Development Director Krieg responded that this could be provided at future meeting. Leonard rescinded the original motion, and Hawes rescinded the second to that motion. Planning Officer Collette clarified what additional information the Committee is requesting. 2. AIRPORT DIRECTOR REPORT, Action requested to accept the report Airport Director Jose Saavedra presented to the Committee. Councilor Leonard asked about the pros and cons of having an Airport Committee vs. not having one. Expressed a desire to reinstate the Airport Committee. City Manager Debbie Laurie provided additional background regarding the previous existence of an Airport Committee and clarified what is being asked of Airport Director Saavedra. Saavedra responded to Leonard's concerns. Councilor Hawes responded and also expressed a desire to reinstate the Airport Committee. Laurie stated that this could be discussed at a Council workshop. Airport Director Saavedra gave an overview of his written report. Councilor Dean asked about adding a direct flight between Bangor and Boston — Airport Director Saavedra responded and clarified. 3. DANGEROUS BUILDING UPDATE, Action requested to forward recommendation to full Council Assistant City Solicitor Grace Innis presented to the Committee and gave an overview of the dangerous building process. Interim Code Enforcement Director Brenda Hanscom Bilotta presented to the Committee and gave an overview of several properties recommended to move forward with. Councilor Hawes asked for clarification regarding the next steps in the process — Interim Code Enforcement Director Hanscom Bilotta responded and clarified. Member of the public James Butler presented to the Committee to discuss his property that is on the list of dangerous buildings. Councilor Fish asked why nothing has been done with this property in the years that it has been vacant — Butler responded and clarified. Council Chair Pelletier asked about future plans for the property — Butler responded and clarified. City Manager Debbie Laurie recommended moving forward with the dangerous building process with the properties proposed thus far. Councilor Hawes moved to forward recommendation to full Council, seconded by Councilor Fish. Roll call vote conducted —5 in favor, 1 (Councilor Mallar) opposed. Motion passed. 4. LD435 AN ACT TO EXPAND THE HISTORIC PROPERTY REHABILITATION TAX CREDIT, Action requested to direct staff to testify in support Development Director Anne Krieg presented the agenda item and gave an overview of staff's request for support. Councilor Fish moved direction to staff to testify in support, seconded by Councilor Hawes. Roll call vote conducted — all in favor, none opposed. Motion passed. Councilor Mallar asked how properties would be determined to qualify for this tax credit — Development Director Krieg responded and clarified. 5. OVERVIEW OF THE CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM Development Director Anne Krieg presented the agenda item. Community Development Officer Robyn Stanicki presented to the Committee and gave an overview of the Community Development Block Grant program. Council Chair Pelletier asked about upcoming changes to HUD and how this will impact the CDBG program — Community Development Officer Stanicki responded and clarified. 6. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES Economic Development Officer Biguita Hernandez-Smith presented to the Committee and provided an update on the Division's activities. Councilor Fish expressed support for more frequent check-ins with Economic Development Officer Hernandez-Smith at Committee meetings. Councilor Dean asked about retention of small businesses — Economic Development Officer Hernandez-Smith responded and clarified possible strategies. Councilor Leonard expressed support for these strategies. Meeting adjourned at 8:43 P.M. Meeting minutes respectfully submitted, Sarah Maquillan Admin. Asst. C&ED