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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-10 15-278 ORDINANCECOUNCIL ACTION Item No. 15-278 Date: August 10, 2015 Item/Subject: ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, of the Code of the City of Bangor, By Instituting a Pre -Application Meeting for Major Projects Responsible Department: Community and Economic Development Commentary: This ordinance amendment would provide for a pre -application meeting for certain large development projects. The purpose of the meeting would be to identify potential development issues prior to Planning Board, with the goal of avoiding potential pitfalls later in the development process. Many of the larger development projects that come before the City, including major site developments and subdivisions, are complex. A large number of federal, state, and local requirements often need to be met for these projects to be approved. City departments, including Planning, Engineering, Fire Prevention, and others, can often identify potential issues to address early in the development process. This item was reviewed at the BED meeting of August 4, 2015. Department Head Manager's Comments: City Manager Associated Information: Ordinance Budget Approval: Finance Director Legal Approval: City Introduced for Passage x First Reading x Referral to the Planning Board on August 18, 2015 15-278 AUGUST 10, .2015 r. Assigned to'Councilor Baldacci of A*d is CITY OF BANGOR ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 165, Land Development Code, of the Code of the City of Bangor, By Instituting a Pre -Application Meeting for Major Projects WHEREAS, many of the larger development projects that come before the City are complex, and need to meet various federal, state, and local requirements and regulations; WHEREAS, such projects can often be expedited if potential issues are identified and addressed early in the development process; BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR AS FOLLOWS, THAT Section 165-112 of the Code of the City of Bangor be amended as follows: § 165-112. Submittal requirements. C. Pre -application Meeting U All applicants for Major Subdivisions, Mobile Home Parks or Major Site Developments are required to attend a pre -application meeting. A pre -application meeting is for review of basic submission requirements for a project, applicable permits and permitting standards. Prior to the meeting, the applicant must submit to the Planning Department a concepjual plan for evaluation of the critical issues involved such as, where applicable, traffic, parking, stormwater, utilities, building location, and setbacks and buffer yards. Completed designs are not required at that time. A pre -application meeting is not a public hearing. A Dre-application meeting does not vest rights to aDDlicable permits in the as l_p licant. The applicant or his or her agent shall attend to provide background on the project and answer any questions of City staff. f Scheduling of a pre -application meeting; La The timing and schedule of pre -application meetings shall be based on a regular schedule in advance of applicable Planning Board Meetings as determined by the Director of Communi and Economic Development. Applicants and/or their representatives shall be notified of the date and time of the and time of the meetin. 15-278 AUGUST 10, 2015 Cb Nothing in this section shall prohibit any applicant or their representative from meeting with Ci staff Inde endentl of the pre -application meetin . LQ Documentation of meeting and conclusions A member of the City staff shall document at the pre-aqplication meeting key elements of the project, permits to be required and issues to be addressed. A meeting record shall be distributed to all parties present for comment and/or adjustment. Any office which does not attend a pre -application meeting may provide comments to the meeting record. Ub If any significant changes in the project details are made after the pre -application meeting, the applicant must notify the Planning Director and any other City departments or divisions who attended the pre -application meeting. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Chapter, the Planning Director or his or her designee may refrain from placing an application on the agenda of the Planning Board upon the failure of an applicant or their representative to attend a pre -application meeting, or if the applicant makes significant changes to the Qroject after the pre -application meeting. U The Director of Community and Economic Development or his or her designee may, at his or her sole discretion, waive the requirement for a pre -application meeting where the elements of the Qroject are simple, straightforward and do not warrant such advance planning. Additions are underlined, deletions StFurek threuO. IN CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 10, 2015 FIRST READING AND REFERRAL TO PLANNING BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 18, 2015 CITY CLERK IN CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 24, 2015 MOTION MADE AND SECONDED FPR PASSAGE VOTE: 7-0 COUNCILORS VOTING YES: CIVIELLO, FAIRCLOTH, GRAHAM, NEALLEY, PLOURDE, SPRAGUE, DURGIN COUNCILORS VOTING NO: NONE PASSED CITY CLERK 15-278 AUGUST 10, 2015 MEMORANDUM DATE: August 19, 2015 TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: David G. Gould, Planning Officer SUBJECT: Amending Zoning Ordinance Chapter 165-112 Cr Pre -application Meeting. Council Ordinance 15-278 Please be advised that the Planning Board at its meeting on August 18, 2015, held a Public Hearing on the above Zoning Amendment to include a Pre -application requirement for all Major Site Plans and Subdivisions. Chairman Bolin opened the Public Hearing and Planning Officer David Gould provided the Board with an overview of the proposed amendment. The amendment seeks to formalize a step in the Staff review process whereby various Departments and utility service providers would meet with applicants and designers prior to their submission of an application to preview any potential issues. Mr. Gould noted the intent is to avoid eleventh hour changes in plans or key details not being addressed until after the Board's review. Chairman Bolin noted the step could help in smoothing out the details before applications get in front of the Board. Member Miller asked if this would end last minute changes to address Staff concerns. Mr. Gould noted that it may help, but it's really more focused on bigger issues. No one from the audience spoke either in favor of or in opposition to the proposed zoning amendment. Member Boothby moved to recommend that the proposed amendment to the Land Development Code as contained in Council Ordinance 15-278 be passed by the City Council. Member Williams seconded the motion and the Board voted unanimously to recommend that C.O. 15-278 be adopted.