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Planning board recommends council allow small farm stands and waive paving requirement for some agricultural uses
Summary
The planning board voted to recommend a code amendment that would create a new accessory use for small farm stands (structures under 200 sq ft) and exempt agricultural and outdoor recreational uses from paving requirements; a local grower urged the change citing high paving costs and ADA parking burdens.
The City of Bangor Planning Board on June 16 recommended that the City Council adopt an amendment to the land development code to create a new accessory use for very small farm stands and to exempt agricultural and outdoor recreational uses from paving requirements.
Planning officer Anya Collette presented the proposal, saying it would allow small farm stands (under 200 square feet) in certain districts and would exempt those uses from land development permitting. Collette added that applicants would still need to comply with city food-safety ordinances and any applicable state licensing for animal or value-added products.
Local grower Lisa Clark spoke in support during public comment. Clark described her 4-acre property and said the cost and technical requirements of paving and site plans can make seasonal sales infeasible: “If I have paid parking, I have to have wheelchair space...the cost was gonna run about $7,000 to pave,” she said, adding that she hoped the amendment would let her sell flowers seasonally without prohibitive costs.
Collette told the board that if the changes pass at council the farmer would not need site-plan review and would instead only need a building permit for a small structure, although she recommended the grower check with code enforcement for specific details. Member Ted Brush moved that the board recommend Council adopt the amendment; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call. Chair Boucher said the board’s recommendation will go before City Council at its next meeting.
Next steps: the board’s recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for consideration; the planning office advised potential applicants to consult code enforcement on building-permit and ADA-parking questions.
