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Home My WebLink About2026-02-09 26-086 Ordinance26-086 2/9/2026 CITY COUNCIL ACTION Council Meeting Date: February 9, 2026 Item No: 26-086 Responsible Dept: Planning Action Requested: Ordinance Map/Lot: n/a Title, Ordinance Amending the Land Development Code, Section 165-73 Parking Area Location and Screening to Remove the Buffer Requirement for Parking Lots Adjacent to Properties Zoned G&ISD, Except Where the Adjacent Property Contains a Residential, Cemetery, or School Use. Summary This amendment would remove the requirement to create a vegetated buffer between off-street parking and parcels in the G&ISD (Government & Institutional Service District) zone, except where the adjacent property that's zoned G&ISD contains a residential, cemetery, or school use. The reasoning for this change is that the G&ISD zone contains many intensive uses, including some commercial uses, and does not significantly benefit from having a buffer between parking and these uses. The primary complaint heard from the public about parking is when parking lots are adjacent to residential areas. The Code does currently require vegetated buffers between parking and all residential zones and this would remain as is. Additionally, these proposed amendments would also require that a buffer remain for G&ISD properties that contain residential, cemetery, or school uses. However, the current requirement to provide a buffer from G&ISD in general seems excessive and can hinder commercial development in some cases. Committee Action Committee: Planning Board Action: Staff Comments & Approvals City Manager Director Introduced for: First Reading Meeting Date: 2/17/2026 For: City Solicitor Against: 46'�M �� Finance 26-086 2/9/2026 CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE Date: February 9, 2026 Assigned to Councilor: Faloon ORDINANCE, Amending the Land Development Code, Section 165-73 Parking Area Location and Screening to Remove the Buffer Requirement for Parking Lots Adjacent to Properties Zoned G&ISD, Except Where the Adjacent Property Contains a Residential, Cemetery, or School Use. Whereas, the G&ISD (Government & Institutional Service District) zone contains many intensive uses, including some commercial uses, and does not significantly benefit from having a buffer between parking and these uses; Whereas, the primary complaint heard from the public about parking is when parking lots are adjacent to residential areas; Whereas, the Code does currently require vegetated buffers between parking and all residential zones and this would remain as is; Whereas, the current requirement to provide a buffer from G&ISD seems excessive and can hinder commercial development in some cases; Whereas, this amendment would remove the requirement to create a vegetated buffer between off-street parking and parcels in the G&ISD zone, except where the adjacent property that's zoned G&ISD contains a residential, cemetery, or school use; Be it Ordered by the City Council of the City of Bangor that, The Land Development Code shall be amended as shown below: §165-73 Parking area location and screening. D. Screening of parking. All parking lots containing five or more parking spaces, outdoor display areas, outdoor storage areas and all outdoor off-street loading areas shall be screened in accordance with the following requirements: (1) All parking lots and off-street loading areas shall have a C Buffer Yard as provided in Article XIX along any property line abutting any residential district, any Multifamily and Service District, any propefty in the Government and Institutional Service District that contains a residential, cemetery, or school use, any Rural Residence and Agricultural District, any Park and Open Space District, any Resource Protection District and any Stream Protection District; excepting that parking lots and off-street loading areas in URD-2, M & SD, and NSD containing no more than 10 parking spaces shall instead have an A Buffer Yard along such property lines. Additions underlined, deletions s}_,, eHg-h COMMUNITY &ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CITY OF BANGOR. PLANNINGr DIVISION Memorandum To: Honorable Bangor City Council Carollynn Lear, City Manager From: Anja Collette, AICP, Planning Officer Date: February 18, 2026 CC: Courtney O'Donnell, Assistant City Manager David Szewczyk, City Solicitor Anne Krieg, AICP — Director of Community & Economic Development Re: Planning Board Recommendation February 17, 2026 Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, to Remove the Buffer Requirement for Parking Lots Adjacent to Properties Zoned G&ISD, Except Where the Adjacent Property Contains a Residential, Cemetery, or School Use Please accept this memorandum as the recommendation from the Planning Board for the noted item. The Planning Board considered this item in a noticed public hearing on February 17, 2026. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers at City Hall and on Zoom. Members in attendance in the Chambers were Chair Jonathan Boucher, Vice Chair Janet Jonas, and Members Trish Hayes, Ted Brush, Ken Huhn, Ross Whitford, and Greg Hobson. Planning Officer Collette reviewed the proposed amendments. From the staff memo: A. This amendment would remove the requirement to create a vegetated buffer between off-street parking and parcels in the Government and Institutional Service District (G&ISD), except where the adjacent property that is zoned for G&ISD contains a residential, cemetery, or school use. B. The reasoning for this change is that the G&ISD zone contains somewhat intensive uses, including some commercial uses, and does not significantly benefit from having a buffer between parking and these uses. The current requirement to provide a buffer from G&ISD in general seems excessive and can hinder commercial development in some cases. C. The primary complaint heard from the public about parking is when parking lots are adjacent to residential areas. The Code does currently require vegetated buffers between parking and all residential zones and this would remain as is. Additionally, this change would still require a buffer from any residential uses in a G&ISD zone, such as permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and nursing homes. 73 HARLOW STREET, BANGOR, ME 04401 TELEPHONE: (207) 992-4280 FAX: (207) 945-4447 WWW.BANGORMAINE.GOV CITY OF BANGOR PLANNING DIVISION PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL 2.17.2026 Land Development Code — G&ISD Parking Buffer There were no comments from the Board or the public. Vice Chair Jonas moved to recommend to City Council that the proposed amendments ought to pass. Member Hayes seconded the motion. All members voted in favor. The result of the vote is that a majority of Planning Board members voted to recommend that the proposed amendments ought to pass. Anja Collette Page 212 IN CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 9, 2026 COrd 26-086 Motion made and seconded for First Reading and Referral to Planning Board meeting on February 17, 2026 Vote: 9—0 Councilors Voting Yes: Beck, Carson, Deane, Faloon, Fish, Leonard, Mallar,Walker, Hawes Councilors Voting No: None Passed � �„��µw�:..�� n,� „ ��rv��:�„� �. CITY CLERK IN CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 25, 2026 COrd 26-086 Motion made and seconded for Passage Vote: 8—0 Councilors Voting Yes: Beck, Carson, Faloon, Fish, Leonard, Mallar, Walker, Hawes Councilors Voting No: None Passed � �.� ,�..� � �� :,w�,�N � ��.� . � ��;�� ,, CITY CLERK