Bangor planning board backs adding public-safety use to airport district to allow fire training facility

The Bangor City Planning Board unanimously recommended that the City Council amend the land development code to add a general public-safety use to the Airport Development District, a change the board said would allow a proposed fire training facility to locate in that zone.

Planning Officer Anya Collette told the board the change is “a pretty simple change, to just add a public safety use to this district. The primary reason being, this is where the proposed fire training facility is gonna be” and the use currently would not be allowed in the zone.

The board’s recommendation is advisory; Reese Perkins, chairman of the Planning Board, reminded members that the City Council will make the final decision on zoning and land development code changes. After Collette’s presentation there were no members of the public to comment in person or on Zoom, and board members moved to recommend that the council adopt the amendment.

The board voted by roll call, recording yes votes from Member Michael Basinet, Member Jonathan Boucher, Member Ted Brush, Member Tricia Hayes, Member Ken Heung, Member Janet Jonas and Chair Reese Perkins. The motion passed unanimously and the item will be considered by the City Council at an upcoming meeting.

The change would add a listed public-safety use (fire protection and law enforcement) to Chapter 165’s Airport Development District land-use table so that a fire training facility could be permitted in that district. Planning staff said other uses already allowed in the district include restaurants and schools, and the addition is intended to align the code with the proposed project’s location.

The board did not receive any public testimony on the proposal at the meeting. The Planning Board’s role is to review whether proposed code amendments adhere to the comprehensive plan and to recommend whether the council “ought to pass” the amendment; the council makes the final decision.

The Planning Board’s packet and related code text were referenced by staff during the review; the council will receive the board’s unanimous recommendation when it takes up the item.