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Bangor council approves rezoning, grants, license renewals and committee orders; roll call on rezoning shows 8-0
Summary
At its Feb. 24 meeting, the Bangor City Council approved a package of consent and regular-agenda items including a rezoning ordinance, homeland security and economic development grants, a casino license renewal, and orders establishing committees and accepting the housing study.
The Bangor City Council on Feb. 24 approved multiple agenda items ranging from a rezoning ordinance and grant acceptances to a casino license renewal and committee formation.
Highlights
- Rezoning ordinance 25-067: The council amended the land-development code and rezoned a roughly 10-acre parcel at 861 Broadway to Shopping and Personal Service District (SPS). Councilor Trumbo moved for passage and the ordinance passed in a roll-call vote recorded as 8 yes, 0 no. The roll call named Councilors Beck, Dean, Fish, Fortier, Haas, Mallon, Trumbo and Pelletier as voting yes.
- Grant appropriations: The council accepted and appropriated a Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security grant award of $96,247 through the Maine Emergency Management Agency for police and fire department equipment and programs (order 25-068). The council also accepted a $500,000 Northern Border Regional Commission grant for construction of the Bangor Central Kitchen project (resolve 25-069). Both items were reported as recommended by committee and were approved by the council.
- License renewal: The council opened and closed a public hearing and then renewed the casino operator license for HC Bangor LLC doing business as Hollywood Casino Bangor, 500 Main Street. The renewal passed with no objection recorded.
- Donations and local orders: The council authorized acceptance of a donation from author Jessica Blood to support the city's K-9 teams (order 25-080) and established a special committee on the future of a consolidated Paxson Recreation facility to review the parks and recreation feasibility study (order 25-081). Both items passed.
- Housing study: The council accepted the 2025 Bangor Housing Study prepared by HR&A Advisors and added it as an appendix to the comprehensive plan (order 25-082). The council also approved an order authorizing a sublease and lease amendment for the Hope House shelter (order 25-083), discussed in a separate article.
Vote and motion details (as recorded in the meeting transcript)
- 25-067 (rezoning at 861 Broadway): Motion by Councilor Trumbo; second not specified in the transcript. Roll-call yes votes recorded for Councilors Beck, Dean, Fish, Fortier, Haas, Mallon, Trumbo and Pelletier. Result: Passed, 8-0.
- 25-068 (Homeland Security grant acceptance, $96,247): Moved by Councilor Trumbull (record alternately shown as Trumbull/Trumbo in transcript); second recorded. Committee recommendation noted. Result: Passed (tally not specified in transcript).
- 25-069 (Northern Border Regional Commission grant, $500,000): Motion by Councilor Fournier; second recorded. Result: Passed (tally not specified in transcript).
- Casino operator license renewal (HC Bangor LLC / Hollywood Casino Bangor): Public hearing opened and closed with no comment; a motion to renew was seconded and the license was renewed with no objection recorded.
- 25-080 (Accept donation to K-9 program from Jessica Blood): Moved and seconded; item passed (donation amount estimated between $1,000 and $5,000 as described in meeting materials).
- 25-081 (Establish special committee for consolidated Paxson Recreation facility): Moved and seconded; passed. Committee to report back by July 10, 2025.
- 25-082 (Accept 2025 Bangor Housing Study): Moved and seconded; passed. Study to be appended to the comprehensive plan.
- 25-083 (Hope House sublease and lease amendment): Moved by Councilor Holmes; second recorded; Councilor Beck recused and left the room; item passed to permit a sublease to Preble Street and an addition increasing emergency shelter beds from 66 to 70.
What it means: Most items were routine committee-recommended actions or grant acceptances; the rezoning item drew a recorded roll-call vote. A number of items advance capital and programmatic initiatives (sport-field lighting procurement noted on the consent agenda, grant-funded equipment for public safety, downtown economic projects). The housing study acceptance and the Hope House lease amendment are likely to shape subsequent zoning and shelter decisions.
Speakers who moved or spoke to items in this roundup are identified in the action entries below. Where the transcript did not record a named seconder or a full roll call for an item, the transcript is cited as "not specified."
