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Resident urges Waterville to bar warehousing in downtown storefronts as council continues redevelopment work
Summary
A resident told council Monday that downtown storefronts being used as warehouses harm the corridor’s appearance and vitality and asked the law director to draft a resolution prohibiting warehousing in primary downtown storefronts. Councilors acknowledged the concern and noted ongoing downtown redevelopment work but took no formal vote.
A Waterville resident asked the City Council on Monday to bar warehousing in downtown storefronts, calling the current practice a “sin” that undermines efforts to revive the downtown corridor.
Scott Johns, 1207 Applegate, told the council he has repeatedly raised concern about shuttered storefronts being used as storage and urged the law director, Katie, to develop a zoning or ordinance change to prohibit warehousing in primary downtown storefronts.
Why it matters: Johns argued that active retail storefronts would better serve the city’s efforts to bolster downtown vibrancy and the 2012 comprehensive plan. Council members said they share concerns about vacant and poorly maintained buildings and pointed to ongoing efforts, including a pending downtown redevelopment district application that could make funding available for façade and building improvements.
Council comments and related issues: Members said several factors complicate immediate action — many downtown properties are privately owned and owners live outside the city, and code enforcement has limits. Councilors also discussed related downtown issues raised during the meeting: poor cellular service in the downtown core and crumbling building facades such as Columbia House.
Former councilor and candidate Tim Guzman told council poor cell coverage harms downtown commerce and public safety and urged officials to escalate the issue with carriers and the Federal Communications Commission. “We gotta tell people higher up that we demand service,” Guzman said.
Outcome: The council did not take an ordinance vote Monday. Johns’ request was entered into the record; staff were asked to continue working on downtown branding, code enforcement and redevelopment options and to coordinate with the law director on possible regulatory steps.
