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 between $1,000 and $5,000), and an order establishing a special committee to review a feasibility study for a consolidated Paxson recreation facility and to report back by July 10, 2025. The council accepted the 2025 Bangor Housing Study prepared by HR&A Advisors and added it as an appendix to the comprehensive plan.

Council also authorized an intent to sublease the shelter space at the Hope House Health and Living Center: the city will consent to a sublease from Penobscot Community Health Center (PCHC) to Preble Street to continue operation of the low-barrier emergency shelter. The order included authorization to amend the city's lease with PCHC to adjust lot lines and allow an addition that would increase emergency shelter beds from 66 to 70; the amendment was described as needed to meet MaineHousing (MSHA) funding requirements and to allow continued MSHA support. Councilor Beck announced a previously acknowledged conflict of interest and left the room for that agenda item.

Several consent-agenda orders passed collectively without roll-call tallies. Items listed on the consent agenda included authorization for the city manager to accept a $500 donation from Carrot Top Corp. for a postpartum and lactation support group; purchase of sports-field lighting for the Union Street Complex from RL Todd & Sunny in the amount of $912,312; authorization to execute an agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation for Route 2 cyclical pavement resurfacing (project 028224); and an easement to Bangor Savings Bank for a pedestrian access right-of-way adjacent to 36 Pleasant Street.

What happened next: the council moved on to other agenda items after passage of the orders; several of the grant- and contract-related approvals noted committee review (finance, economic development) in February 2025. The council recorded no additional conditions on the grants beyond the contingency for federal approval of the UAS purchase.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Ordinance 25-067 (rezoning, 861 Broadway): Moved by Councilor Trumbo; roll-call vote recorded: Councilor Beck 'yes'; Councilor Dean 'yes'; Councilor Fish 'yes'; Councilor Fortier 'yes'; Councilor Haas 'yes'; Councilor Mallon 'yes'; Councilor Trumbo 'yes'; Councilor Pelletier 'yes' (8 yes, 0 no). Outcome: approved. - Resolve 25-068 (accept and appropriate $96,247 FY24 Homeland Security Grant funding): Moved and seconded; council approved (vote tally not recorded in transcript). Outcome: approved. Note: UAS purchase pending DHS policy approval; no equipment purchases until final approval. - Resolve 25-069 (accept and appropriate $500,000 NBRC award for Bangor Central Kitchen): Moved and seconded; council approved (vote tally not recorded). Outcome: approved. - HC Bangor LLC license renewal (Hollywood Casino Bangor, 500 Main St.): Public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; motion to renew passed with no objection (tally not recorded). Outcome: renewed. - Order 25-080 (authorize acceptance of donation from Jessica Blood for K-9 teams): Moved and seconded; approved (tally not recorded). Outcome: approved. - Order 25-081 (establish special committee on consolidated Paxson recreation facility): Moved and seconded; approved (tally not recorded). Outcome: approved. - Order 25-082 (accept 2025 Bangor Housing Study as appendix to comprehensive plan): Moved and seconded; approved (tally not recorded). Outcome: approved. - Order 25-083 (authorize execution of intent to sublease Hope House shelter space; amend lease with PCHC): Moved and seconded; Councilor Beck recused and left the room; motion approved (tally not recorded). Outcome: approved. - Consent-agenda items including sports-field lighting ($912,312), MTOT resurfacing agreement, $500 donation from Carrot Top Corp., and an easement to Bangor Savings Bank: motion and second on entire consent agenda; council voted to approve the consent agenda (tally not recorded). Outcome: approved.

Details and next steps: The council minutes and staff reports referenced committee recommendations (planning board, finance committee, business and economic development committee) and noted certain approvals are contingent on external approvals (for example, MSHA funding rules and DHS approval for the UAS). Where the transcript recorded a roll call, the vote is reported above; where it did not, the outcome is recorded as approved per council action but no individual vote tallies were supplied in the public record excerpt.

Sources: Bangor City Council meeting, Feb. 24, 2025 (public proceedings).