[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6685927,"mediaKeyId","2344504-b16c199081039953908b7ac9d8d513cb","parentId",2344504,"title","Planning board approves Encompass Health rehab hospital at former driving range; asks for plan correction and traffic follow-up","audioSeconds",3399,"startMs",2598000,"endMs",5997000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344504-b16c199081039953908b7ac9d8d513cb&start=2598&end=5997","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344504-b16c199081039953908b7ac9d8d513cb/thumbnail_2598000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6685927/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Planning-board-approves-Encompass-Health-rehab-hospital-at-former-driving-range-asks-for-plan-correction-and-traffic-follow-up","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6685927-58adce475ef3ea1f9f6cb16fe6073115/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201314&Signature=hrwnQpwxjQMzrUNDo2xa2qzmix4ReNx0dd14izC9KMWV50q9Kzl3ugyiPFTuq7xisMrKa9uAOEfaPUQPkNf1NVcrHAnxeidMBSnWY-E-xRlfhGMrDB3KJjn5iL1iKz8KW8JeUqjzQBvNSxLh49yANpj5b2bYRcKblVozoO-gW6ppxwcFwppiWGgAJlzRLQjfR1xgbSRFp61ZsnyvJNqpUl56RFtNR1dT5FkZVYAar5WK0SYs66hKDCCmOweZynBTZXtMvo2ycSnHEpulV9Bi9uwvwmlHr6sHM45c-oQDkSSVZFcBSudsbvSmSirk4rXkiyvr6FlBQnfdBB-96wIdlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bangor Maine","date","2025-02-19T01:59:35.987Z","article","The Bangor City Planning Board unanimously approved a major site development permit and a Site Location of Development application (M.R.S.A. Title 38, section 484) on Feb. 18 for an Encompass Health inpatient rehabilitation hospital at 1017 Union Street.

Nut graf: The approved project calls for a single-story rehabilitation hospital totaling about 79,388 square feet on a roughly 17.5‑acre parcel, developed in two phases (50 beds in phase 1; 30 beds in phase 2 as required by a board condition). The board attached two explicit conditions: (1) the developer’s traffic engineer must assess the operation of the upgraded intersection six months after the facility opens and forward that assessment to the planning division and engineering department, and (2) the applicant must submit modified plans within 30 days showing Phase 2 as a 30-bed phase (the plans had an inconsistency that showed 40 beds in some sheets).

Jim Kaiser, the applicant’s project representative, described the site — a former driving range near the Airport Mall and adjacent commercial development — as approximately 17.5 acres. Kaiser said the project proposes an 80-bed rehabilitation hospital in two phases (targeting phase 1 completion in 2027 and phase 2 around 2028), with a circular access drive, three ambulance-capable delivery points, about 60 parking spaces and a stormwater pond designed to meet pre-development runoff rates because the site drains to Birch Stream, an impaired urban stream.

Kaiser also told the board the project requires a wetland crossing and anticipates “close to half an acre” of wetland impacts and associated state mitigation fees. He said water and sewer capacity letters are in the record and that the intersection at Union Street will be upgraded to a four-way signal as part of the project’s traffic mitigation.

Edmund Ball, Encompass Health’s chief real estate officer, confirmed the facility will operate as an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). “This would be all, inpatient IRF patients,” Ball said, clarifying the patient level of care.

During public comment, Dr. Peter Keebler — a local physician and former head of inpatient rehab at Eastern Maine Medical Center — said he supports the availability of rehab services but questioned the facility’s scale given historical local censuses and Medicare admission criteria. Keebler said Eastern Maine’s unit had reduced its licensed beds before it closed and that patient admission rules and payer mix affect demand and staffing for IRF-level care.

Planning staff recommended a condition requiring the developer’s traffic engineer to monitor intersection performance six months after the facility opens; staff said that follow-up was proposed in the developer’s traffic memo and would help evaluate timing and signal settings once the facility is operating. The board added a second condition requiring corrected plans showing Phase 2 as 30 beds and directed the applicant to submit those revised plans within 30 days.

The motion to grant the major site development and site location permit, including the two conditions, passed on a unanimous roll-call vote. The board’s findings in the record cite compliance with relevant land development code standards and state site-location regulations.

Ending: With unanimous approval and the two conditions in place, Encompass Health may proceed with permitting and construction activities subject to state permitting for wetlands and the applicant’s timely submission of corrected construction drawings and the later traffic assessment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Board 2.18.25","oneSentenceSummary","The Bangor City Planning Board unanimously approved a major site development permit and Site Location of Development application on Feb. 18 for an Encompass Health inpatient rehabilitation hospital at 1017 Union Street, a two‑phase, 80‑bed project with conditions for plan correction and post‑opening traffic review.","taxTitle","Bangor City, Penobscot County, Maine","taxId",2586,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6685931,"Bangor planning board recommends rezoning of 861 Broadway despite traffic concerns",1332,413000,1745000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344504-b16c199081039953908b7ac9d8d513cb&start=413&end=1745","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344504-b16c199081039953908b7ac9d8d513cb/thumbnail_413000.jpg","/articles/6685931/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Bangor-planning-board-recommends-rezoning-of-861-Broadway-despite-traffic-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6685931-9711201f9505ead6535aecba3aa4706d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201314&Signature=BteoxbxWYJHfo3fdyQCRx3EGakmE3~OESpGN5vCIH~YKM~5v1Pl8igt9xBbVqtaO0CKDhF-TdAgIMPkQOdPEkt7lgKRKU1ULQyA2xvPTs4vTRz5bTb3dprUHmQXH8qhLleC1VtUWS~Lz5begIvefNYrSIrDKeqkrE07NATII2GNCH0ZnMxDmQbdmO6WgkkvFgQp7AM~cqrEKBRqtEAxKaZH7HUUir2GVLeXBlowQf0pVJwOZooc2ntg3BDk-uXBS5tgY5yZdQ05PXx1YiqxnLQYWJmg~X~5H7D0nEp0nKl~XvZFv-81mbi5HpAYCmZxG8qGuvgutYPy69Kpz2b0~zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bangor City Planning Board voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to recommend the City Council approve a zone change for a roughly 10-acre parcel at 861 Broadway (Map Lot R41-005), moving the site from an industrial service district with a contract zone and low-density residential to a shopping and personal services district.

The change, moved by Member Ted Brush and seconded by Member Hume, passed with a roll-call vote and a unanimous recommendation that the council “ought to pass.” Chair Rhys Perkins read the board’s finding that the corridor’s future development is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Nut graf: The recommendation clears a major zoning hurdle for the property long occupied by a radio station and broadcast tower. The applicant and its planner said the new S and PS district would better match development patterns along Broadway and allow a wider range of commercial and higher-density residential uses. Neighbors said they support redevelopment but flagged traffic, pedestrian safety and the existing tower as outstanding concerns.

Andy Johnston, principal of Logitech Resource Consultants, told the board the parcel — near Bangor High School and along an arterial corridor between I-95 and Griffin Road — was originally rezoned by contract in 1996 for radio broadcast use and the contract limited uses to that purpose. Johnston said the radio station license has moved and the tower is expected to be removed, adding that rezoning would allow “high-value light commercial uses” and some higher-density residential compatible with surrounding institutions including Husson University and the Saint Joe’s Medical Campus.

Several board members asked whether rezoning would leave the tower as a nonconforming structure. City staff and the applicant noted the existing contract agreement allows nonconforming uses to continue if the City Council later changes zoning. Planning officer Anya Collette and city engineer Jefferson Davis also told the board that if the tower remains it would likely be nonconforming and that typical redevelopment plans would ultimately make the site’s tower impractical.

Longtime neighbor and property owner David Craig urged the board to weigh traffic and pedestrian safety in any future development. “My big concern…and I don’t want to stop development of that property…is the traffic,” Craig said, describing daily congestion and the lack of sidewalks on Broadway near Grandview Avenue. City engineer Jefferson Davis said developers can be asked to mitigate traffic impacts during later site-plan review and noted the city has planned sidewalk construction for the corridor, though no construction is scheduled yet.

Board discussion emphasized the difference between rezoning (a legislative recommendation to council) and later site-specific permitting. Perkins told the room that traffic and sidewalk mitigation typically are addressed at the subsequent site development permit stage when a specific use and site plan are proposed.

The board voted unanimously to recommend the council approve the zone change. The item will go to the City Council at its next meeting for final action.

Ending: The recommendation now moves to the City Council for final consideration; the board noted that traffic and pedestrian improvements would be addressed during any later site plan review if redevelopment proceeds.","The Bangor City Planning Board voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to recommend the City Council approve a zone change for a roughly 10-acre parcel at 861 Broadway from a contract industrial/service district and low-density residential to a shopping and personal services district.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6685929,"Planning board approves Community Care retaining-wall and paving repairs at 136 Union Street",638,1958000,2596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2344504-b16c199081039953908b7ac9d8d513cb&start=1958&end=2596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2344504-b16c199081039953908b7ac9d8d513cb/thumbnail_1958000.jpg","/articles/6685929/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Planning-board-approves-Community-Care-retaining-wall-and-paving-repairs-at-136-Union-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6685929-8ea2ce9360c517866bebc3708785ad27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201314&Signature=TvZ0S7UFy7wJ~KC9sOz2opCkDcbeqx5J8ITX9AIZ9XTQbHhtKxBZFKiaWRNUaj7POw40vecScTPqc3r2YXTfKjcY2rslAEWYGG~0tBK-7qd4gF5TH2tycVw4PCAv4BfaIqZV7yVC7ZpFtXFZ-TSNRkTNYjtehDWPPiA-L4DN420DYsUcLQyttJALIYvPDjI8A3WzWlJIyBDamRTg3lHAt96omi0PV9SK7locWG0vuWVVif15l47DtCu8FL2IZSColxTOhT3G-KSPn4OKdeFzwBke5WXPo5RyuwoZy9uNFN2dLDSsRBJKGYIf8aclW7rfiSrWMxv6NH-4SSaOgCGhCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bangor City Planning Board unanimously approved a minor site development permit on Feb. 18 for repairs and site improvements at 136 Union Street, a property owned by Community Care.

Nut graf: The applicant sought to replace two failing retaining walls with Ready Rock block retaining walls, update paving to direct stormwater into the existing drainage system and replace an onsite catch basin that ties into the city’s storm system. Staff deemed the application complete and the board found the proposal met applicable land development standards.

Lucy Feeney, civil engineer with Haley Ward and the project presenter, told the board the largest retaining wall is at the First and Union Street intersection and will be replaced with Ready Rock block walls; a smaller failing wooden wall on the western side of the site will receive the same treatment. Feeney also described proposed street trees along Union Street and a new municipal catch basin connection on First Street.

Planning staff had no unresolved completeness issues; the board considered standards for erosion and sediment control, parking and drainage and unanimously approved each standard before granting the land development permit for the minor site development.

Ending: The applicant may proceed with the retaining-wall replacements and pavement work. Board members reminded applicants that typical construction best practices for erosion control and sequencing remain enforceable through the permitting process.","The Bangor City Planning Board unanimously granted a minor site development permit to Community Care to replace failing retaining walls with Ready Rock block walls, update paving and replace a catch basin at 136 Union Street.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning board approves Encompass Health rehab hospital at former driving range; asks for plan correction and traffic follow-up

Bangor planning board recommends rezoning of 861 Broadway despite traffic concerns

Planning board approves Community Care retaining-wall and paving repairs at 136 Union Street