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Planning staff reported on July 10 that the city has made several project-level moves related to brownfields, downtown buildings and housing strategy.

Staff said the EPA emergency removal action at the steam plant site is complete and that all petroleum contamination at the diesel plant site has been removed by a contractor identified as GAFTECH. The city will issue a request for proposals for demolition of the diesel plant and expects interest from firms for demolition and redevelopment of the larger starch/steam plant site. The starch plant is under contract and staff said a closing could occur within a month.

Using MBRC grant funds, the city purchased the old railroad station on Water Street (closing July 3). The recreation department has begun basic cleanup at the station and the riverfront committee plans to hold its next meeting in that space as the city explores possible riverfront anchors and events.

Staff also said the city issued an RFP for a housing study funded by a Housing Opportunity Program grant; proposals are due in August and the council will award the contract in August. Separately, the city issued an RFP for a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund project to address contaminated soils at the Birds Eye site and completed a mandatory site walkthrough.

On tax-acquired and blighted properties, staff described an experiment to accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure for a Herschel Street building with roof failure so the city can pursue demolition without the limits that foreclosure law imposes. The planning board's anti-blight and anti-nuisance ordinances have been forwarded to the council for public hearings in July.

Ending note: Staff requested the board's guidance where applicable and said more RFPs and engineering work will follow as the city addresses demolition design, environmental cleanup and housing planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caribou Planning Board 7/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff told the board the city closed on the former railroad station, completed an EPA emergency removal at the steam plant site, will publish RFPs for demolition and housing studies, and is pursuing a deed-in-lieu approach for a tax-acquired property.","taxTitle","Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine","taxId",52157,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6173798,"Planning board to transmit Caribou comprehensive plan draft to state for review",354,507000,861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377962-ce206089f3f3aaeb537b5213f3e28228&start=507&end=861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377962-ce206089f3f3aaeb537b5213f3e28228/thumbnail_507000.jpg","/articles/6173798/Caribou/Aroostook-County/Maine/Planning-board-to-transmit-Caribou-comprehensive-plan-draft-to-state-for-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173798-2a02142be5a040f0d5c8c52613f14c88/orig.mp4?Expires=1773627266&Signature=UHIthDcTGtxS2lmWlizokyStdqImWlcNsRffONqV1VJ8xQ6zr14fkOBywJYZm8iqL57MWRnQQsz5-RAT9j-bEcAr-2N~6Y6xnAqDNfWbYY~sTLKmWOrEjE4p9WAaDpkBzg-XgoSFJE-nFQOJ1y~pDMvkdpT82EfVRN5ckQHkbddK-kgEyjeq-u8XycYLzJnZFXD3RU3Nt~SrJbrOcxeNC~17GMCip8MqfCpD~hiCrn90Gb~KWDUBJ~nmqBVYKKrRfJp-uNA6wS~iOGrmrd6VmegfqZGScfU2s09v8Dl5qLepYtVSCs5arKq~Iq6z776xBivVi0MKPDAXMK8nWxx6SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CARIBOU, Maine

The Caribou Planning Board on July 10 agreed to transmit a 176-page draft of the city's comprehensive plan to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for state review, but board members said they expect to finish minor edits and circulate the draft to the full council before submitting.

Planning staff told members the draft remains a work in progress: several sections require final edits and graphic conversion before the plan will be posted as a downloadable PDF. The board discussed the two-stage review process: first state review (staff will ask the department for an estimated review timeline), and then a required 30-day public review that includes a public hearing at a council meeting once state comments are addressed.

Staff said the plan is overdue (originally due in 2024) but is at the stage where it should be sent for state review once a few outstanding edits are incorporated. The planning board chair and the mayor were asked to sign a transmittal letter to the state after staff finishes the edits and produces the final PDF.

Members asked that the draft be shared with city councilors before state submission so councilors can review ahead of any state comments. Staff said they will aim to incorporate edits, send the PDF to the graphic designer, and then issue a download link to board members and councilors in the coming week.

Ending note: The board expects to post the draft for public review after the state review window and to schedule a public hearing at a council meeting once the state returns its comments.","The planning board approved sending a 176-page comprehensive plan draft to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for state review, with staff to finalize minor edits before transmission and to circulate the draft to councilors.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6173802,"Caribou planning board asks city attorney to update cannabis ordinance, affirms existing opt-out",3447,884000,4331000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377962-ce206089f3f3aaeb537b5213f3e28228&start=884&end=4331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377962-ce206089f3f3aaeb537b5213f3e28228/thumbnail_884000.jpg","/articles/6173802/Caribou/Aroostook-County/Maine/Caribou-planning-board-asks-city-attorney-to-update-cannabis-ordinance-affirms-existing-opt-out","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173802-1721f75f906b5f2ebc40a8d4d7b941fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773627266&Signature=eEYJVeMvgVUWDXGXBqEDfz1mJx5m3So5k6s3vCtEv7zdrWikszTp4m2pJ0bzxUi9EudLITfnYEhAFn1clH0jz605tiwx~uP3Akw6LaR3iQYPir8A2YvtijnaSmZeYshGKO5qBsaDEMT339bAetLpSbaHnJdYd59XLyslsG7mlWmOKL8fLNATG0U6MrkqaT-3no6cEE7D9hrnXIZkLGrFAtmd0UEtRkH4W5fRNHKcPeJ-QCpuR0uEmaCDFQqGivKuWZUy0MhTWtHuJYdNri6nAXc32MeJLPaa1RH5RnazUFj4khjX6aPHoPXBFVBifzsHcNcLoZLZBAxyd~KexhtdOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CARIBOU, Maine ' The Caribou Planning Board voted unanimously on July 10 to direct the city attorney to update the municipal cannabis ordinance language to reflect current state statute and to retain the town's existing philosophy that effectively keeps broad retail cannabis sales out of most of the city.

The motion, approved by roll call, instructs the attorney to revise Chapter 13 (sections 39 and 41) and the licensing chapter to change outdated terminology (for example, replacing \"marijuana\" with \"cannabis\") and to preserve the planning board's position that the city is not opening widespread retail sales. The board recorded a 4-0 vote in favor.

Board members said the update is needed because state definitions and the Office of Cannabis Policy have created new categories ' including \"caregiver retail store\" ' that do not fit neatly into the current local zoning and land-use code. Board members raised legal concerns about spot zoning, setback rules, and how a retail classification would interact with existing zone maps.

Planning board members also discussed the practical difference between caregivers and dispensaries under state rules and the potential licensing and testing requirements that would follow if the city chooses to allow different types of retail. The board noted the municipality has limited control over some aspects of caregiver licensing but can regulate land use and zoning.

The motion directs staff and the municipal attorney to produce ordinance language that mirrors state terminology while maintaining the planning board's existing policy stance (an effective opt-out from broad retail sales), and to bring the revised text back for board review and further recommendation to the council.

Action and next steps: the board asked staff to coordinate with the city attorney to draft the amendments. The board also instructed that the revised ordinance maintain Caribou's current approach with respect to where retail cannabis activity would be permitted, and to prepare the draft for subsequent public review and council consideration.

Ending note: Board members said they want clear, simple ordinance language to avoid creating loopholes or unintended zoning results, and they emphasized the need for careful legal review before any change is finalized.","On July 10 the Caribou Planning Board voted to direct the city attorney to update local ordinance language to match recent state statute changes while keeping the town's current approach that does not allow broad retail sales.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning staff reports progress on brownfields, riverfront and housing projects

Planning board to transmit Caribou comprehensive plan draft to state for review

Caribou planning board asks city attorney to update cannabis ordinance, affirms existing opt-out