Bangor City Council approves rezoning, grants, licenses and orders including $500,000 NBRC award

Bangor City Council on Feb. 24, 2025, approved a package of ordinances, grant acceptances, licensing and administrative orders including a rezoning of 861 Broadway, acceptance of federal/state grant awards and amendments to leases for a homeless shelter.

The most consequential vote was adoption of Ordinance 25-067 to rezone a roughly 10-acre property at 861 Broadway from Contract Industry and Service District and Low Density Residential District to Shopping and Personal Service District. Councilor Trumbo moved the ordinance and the council approved it in a roll-call vote of 8-0. The planning board had unanimously recommended approval at its Feb. 18 meeting.

The council also accepted and appropriated grant awards and other funding: Resolve 25-068 accepts $96,247 in fiscal year 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program funding through the Maine Emergency Management Agency to support police and fire department programs; the council noted that the purchase of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) remains contingent on final Department of Homeland Security approval of the city's UAS policy. Resolve 25-069 accepts a $500,000 award from the Northern Border Regional Commission to support construction of the Bangor Central Kitchen project.

Other approved items included renewal of the casino operator license for HC Bangor LLC (doing business as Hollywood Casino Bangor, 500 Main St.), an order authorizing acceptance of a small donation from author Jessica Blood to support city K-9 teams (estimated donation…