Planning board backs removing square-foot and count limits for Waterfront temporary vendors

At its June 3, 2025 meeting the City of Bangor Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend that City Council remove limitations on the number and total square footage of temporary commercial vendors in the city’s Waterfront Development District.

Planning officer Anya Collette said the current code limits temporary vendors to five per lot, 10 across the district, and a total of 1,000 square feet per lot, with vendors occupying up to 450 square feet each. She said those limits can be restrictive given current use patterns and that the city already relies on an administrative policy plus required certificates of occupancy to regulate food-truck and temporary-vendor activity at the waterfront.

Collette said the amendment would remove the numeric caps and allow the existing policy and other code requirements to govern temporary commercial vendors in the Waterfront Development District. Board members clarified that the change would apply across the waterfront district — including the larger parking lot near the Sea Dog and areas past the concert venue — and would not affect separately permitted events such as evening markets, which have their own approvals.

Parks and recreation staff member Tracy attended part of the discussion and indicated support for staff’s approach. No members of the public spoke on the item.

Member Ted Brush moved that the board recommend the City Council approve the amendment to remove the square-footage and vendor-count limits; the motion was seconded by Member Janet Jonas and passed on a roll-call vote with Member Michael Bazinet, Member Ted Brush, Member Tricia Hayes, Member Ken Hoon, Member Janet Jonas and Vice Chair Jonathan Boucher all voting yes.

The board’s recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for consideration; the council must adopt any change to the land development code before it takes effect.