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Belfast council approves ordinance allowing transitional housing at 23 Mill Lane and waives permit fees
Summary
The City of Belfast adopted ordinance amendments to allow a transitional housing facility at 23 Mill Lane (the United Methodist Church) and voted to waive Planning Board, building and electrical permit fees requested by the Midcoast Homeless Coalition; votes were unanimous.
The Belfast City Council on March 18 adopted ordinance amendments to permit a transitional housing facility at 23 Mill Lane, the United Methodist Church, and voted to waive related Planning Board and building/electrical permit fees.
Planning and Codes Director Bob Fornier presented the second reading of amendments that add a defined “transitional housing facility” use and create a site-specific special-use allowance limited to 23 Mill Lane. Fornier said the changes touch four parts of the code (business, definitions, housing and zoning) and that there were no changes from the first reading.
“For any bathrooms associated with this occupancy, [they] will be available to transitional housing residents, and staff only,” Fornier said, summarizing guidance from the state plumbing inspector and the state fire marshal about the need for dedicated residential bathrooms and separation measures such as firewalls or locked doors.
Councilor Mary Martier, who moved adoption, framed the project as a small, managed transitional-housing program rather than an emergency shelter. “It is not a homeless shelter,” Martier said, adding the facility is intended primarily for families and would host three to four families at most, require application and committee review, include an agreement for residents and be subject to annual licensing and standards.
Council also considered a staff request tied to the project asking the council to waive Planning Board review and applicable building and electrical permit fees; staff noted the Planning Board review fee is $500 and offered examples of typical permit-fee magnitudes. The council approved the requested fee waivers by voice vote, 5–0.
The city packet notes the Midcoast Homeless Coalition is leading the proposal; staff said additional site plan review and a zoning map amendment will follow as part of implementing the approved ordinance. Council members urged outreach to neighbors and annual license reviews as part of oversight.
The council’s vote adopted the ordinance amendments and the fee-waiver motion passed unanimously. Staff said they will return with the implementation steps needed to update land-use materials and review any detailed plans for the facility.
