Plans advance for Caribou riverfront and brownfields cleanup; EPA grants support diesel and steam‑plant work
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Summary
City planners briefed the board on Riverfront Master Plan outreach and on brownfields cleanup and demolition planning for the diesel and steam plants, saying EPA grants back the projects.
Planning staff told the board the Riverfront Master Plan held a well‑attended public meeting with maps and exercises to guide future design, and a housing‑needs assessment public meeting is scheduled Tuesday at 5 p.m.
On brownfields and demolition, staff said the city reviewed proposals for abatement and demolition of the diesel plant and expects to recommend a contractor to the City Council at its upcoming meeting. "We met to review the responses on November 5... and we'll be making a recommendation to the city council on Monday night," staff said.
Staff said asbestos abatement at the steam plant is mostly complete for accessible areas and that further abatement will be part of demolition contracts. He also noted the city obtained EPA Brownfields funding: "I believe it's 900,000 for the diesel plant and 3,000,000 or 4,000,000 for the steam plant," and said Birds Eye will hold a public hearing and accept comments on its cleanup alternatives through Dec. 17.
Board members asked for clarification on abatement scope and timing and were told additional abatement will occur as part of demolition procurement. Staff also described a commercial property database and parcel viewer map to assist business recruitment and private‑investment matching as part of the riverfront strategy.
Next steps: staff will recommend an award for diesel‑plant demolition to City Council, continue asbestos abatement work and maintain public outreach through the Riverfront and housing processes.
