Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Strategy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Board to develop site‑development strategy, cites developer preference for 'dig‑ready' sites
Summary
Presque Isle Planning Board voted unanimously to prioritize site development work and prepare a housing strategy to recommend to City Council, citing developer interest in dig‑ready sites, tax‑acquired property procedures, and grant opportunities for an UMPI project.
The Presque Isle Planning Board voted March 20 to concentrate initially on site‑development projects and to produce a strategic recommendation for the City Council.
Chairman Bruce Roope reported that the Presque Isle Development Fund (PIDF) met March 19 and discussed funding priorities including blighted housing, tax‑acquired properties and vacant lots. Deputy Director Tim St. Peter told the board the City is considering multiple housing types — new single‑family homes, townhouses, low‑ and moderate‑income housing and elder/assisted‑living options — and asked the board to prioritize which areas to pursue.
St. Peter outlined procedures the City follows for tax‑acquired properties in the transcript: give the owner a 90‑day notice that the City will inspect the property; list the property for fair market value for one year before sale; and, after City expenses are paid, return remaining proceeds to the owner. Sonja Eyler, assistant city manager, said most developers favor "dig‑ready" sites with infrastructure already in place and that the City must offer incentives or invest in infrastructure to attract development.
St. Peter said a UMPI project is promising and staff are exploring a Northern Border grant to help fund it; Richard Engels suggested the project have a separate identity to limit City liability. St. Peter also said he has discussed creating a land bank to manage vacant or tax‑acquired properties but that policies would be needed first. The board voted — motion by Richard Engels, seconded by Bruce Roope — to develop housing strategies and forward recommendations to City Council; vote was unanimous. St. Peter said he will provide research at the Planning Board’s April 17 meeting.
The minutes note staff plans to advertise the 30 Federal Street RFP in local papers, send it directly to developers and forward it to Maine State Housing when the RFP is issued; the RFP had been placed on hold but staff expected to issue it by mid‑April. The minutes show no final decisions on use of PIDF funds or a formal land bank policy — the board’s action directs staff and the board to study options and return with recommendations.
