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Planning board recommends city accept donation of 23 Sand Hill Road amid questions about past demolition costs
Summary
The Lewiston Planning Board voted to recommend that city council accept a donated parcel at 23 Sand Hill Road, while some board members pressed staff for more detail on unpaid taxes, demolition and legal costs tied to a 2003 demolition and how accepting the donation affects city finances.
The Lewiston Planning Board voted Sept. 25 to recommend that city council accept a donation of 23 Sand Hill Road from heirs of the previous owner, after staff said the lot had been demolished in 2003 following a dangerous-building hearing and the memo listed outstanding amounts owed to the city.
Shelley Norton, deputy director of planning staff, told the board the donation pathway would simplify how the city obtains clear title and enables the city to recoup proceeds from any later sale. Board members pressed for more information about the timing of the original demolition, whether the estate had an ability to repay debts, and how the memo’s total liability was composed.
Board member Michael Marott highlighted concerns about the fairness of forgiving roughly $52,000 in obligations to the city and said he would vote no if those questions were not answered. Staff responded that the staff memo listed unpaid taxes and utilities and demolition and legal costs that together produced the stated total and that some of the details would require follow-up.
Despite those concerns, a majority of the board voted to send a favorable recommendation to city council. The board recorded a request that staff provide additional context for future council consideration, including a clearer breakdown of unpaid amounts and the estate’s status, so council can assess the financial implications of accepting the donation before any sale.
