[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6585390,"mediaKeyId","5671226-47304e3e3219bd4173a3fe998a58640b","parentId",5671226,"title","Council approves motion (text as recorded in minutes) by roll call","audioSeconds",37,"startMs",3505000,"endMs",3542000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671226-47304e3e3219bd4173a3fe998a58640b&start=3505&end=3542","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671226-47304e3e3219bd4173a3fe998a58640b/thumbnail_3505000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6585390/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Council-approves-motion-text-as-recorded-in-minutes-by-roll-call","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585390-ccdd3712cd749ea962f7246574a01c9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182368&Signature=d1lbAS9kjT4qKdBm6pd7Ik~1DIrBnwKBv2zfrlS9Oj3cEyWOlzp7cSTIGfgzWXY9CuGW1ukDuewfr1~1rxNkCISW119py0PvODa8lpAPcRairD0QbLSU00W22qXNlPNgIIIZeuNNzCaQuz13R1LqVKW6bGu3jcVLrEXO08b30AifJvjSEf9oVCGZT6HiJ0QtCwmnqpJCZDvVo3cTJvOk6BVTWBXQdpET4vZ-CbKMcY1XzmDTRfNyrvMWjnFevG0y8GEmhkT9VTfhzBw8KJmKRjiBSirLGG~D8gncMh8mjB-7TsmypQGcQja~lx0cYHHCNEGDqOuiRgqDaD6UMqHnUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bangor Maine","date","2025-08-25T21:14:04Z","article","A motion recorded in the meeting transcript as “To the Personal support official.” was moved and seconded and approved by roll call. The transcript records affirmative votes for the motion from the councilors called in the roll call.

Vote tally (recorded in transcript): Councilor Trumbulls? — Yes; Councilor Fournier — Yes; Councilor Dean — Yes; Councilor Beck — Yes; Councilor Fish — Yes; Councilor Haas — Yes; Councilor Mallick — Yes.

Notes and limitations: The full motion text as captured in the transcript is brief and unelaborated; the mover and seconder are not identified in the available transcript excerpt. The outcome recorded in the transcript is approval (all recorded votes were “Yes”). The article does not infer additional details or intent beyond what the transcript records.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Workshop 8.25.25","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council took a motion that was seconded and adopted by roll call; the meeting transcript records affirmative votes from seven councilors.","taxTitle","Bangor City, Penobscot County, Maine","taxId",2586,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585395,"Consultant outlines citywide zoning overhaul to simplify districts, update design controls and ease housing conversions",904,936000,1840000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671226-47304e3e3219bd4173a3fe998a58640b&start=936&end=1840","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671226-47304e3e3219bd4173a3fe998a58640b/thumbnail_936000.jpg","/articles/6585395/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Consultant-outlines-citywide-zoning-overhaul-to-simplify-districts-update-design-controls-and-ease-housing-conversions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585395-5cacff3b45d174f36df42921514a7d5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182368&Signature=g-7-S9LWIVZsDcL7rnG9JSZVqh4J7b9CtDy~8-xCVLtKEyh07AyefUngYnYwTq8KugjjCPheUp9BKcPdT0k3pO4QLV0rSPtd-6MAyTaC5ZM~yX7yW36BAu-kqSq9D8R5sE7OzezytZTiYzi6hyn-wS~Ti15x9X2lbqKGp~Kjv0cuo~Fvda2N1R24PCaLpAinoiQ1RcwjXUOIHjpRcI75FUGDL4srQkAQnkbD-K-jG4LFhfFvTjIYd15yp7AOJHC2TMXky0t9RhyrIkaFpP0pzMSpReqXdQwFkPH1hDpsycF4FFjnGdovekumasvbV3-ehC5A~I72zyigkrdVOYmqDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A planning consultant presented a comprehensive proposal to reorganize Bangor’s zoning code, offering a new district framework, modern design controls and a consolidated approach to development standards aimed at simplifying regulations and making them more predictable.

What was proposed: The consultant recommended removing artificial density caps such as dwelling‑units per acre and per building; allowing averaged front setbacks based on adjacent lots; establishing discrete corner side setback conditions; and adding objective form‑based design elements such as requirements for transparency (windows and doors), limits on blank walls and clearly identifiable entrances.

Residential districts: The consultant proposed seven residential districts grouped into three buckets: an RRA rural district outside the growth boundary with a 1.5‑acre minimum lot area; R1–R3 districts for growth‑boundary areas (R1 analogous to current low‑density with a 12,000‑square‑foot minimum; R2 to accommodate lots that do not meet 12,000 square feet; R3 for higher density inside growth areas); RU1 and RU2 urban residential districts with 5,000 and 3,000 square‑foot minimums; and an RMF district for multifamily cores.

Commercial, mixed use and downtown: The plan would create six commercial/mixed‑use districts including a mixed‑use transitional district, neighborhood mixed‑use nodes, mixed‑use centers (recommended to eliminate lot‑area minimums), a downtown (DT) district to replace the existing downtown development district, and separate general and regional commercial districts to reflect corridor‑oriented versus large‑format commercial uses.

Industrial and transitional uses: The draft would consolidate two similar current industrial districts into three: a general industrial district for uses with outside impacts and storage; an IL light industrial district for indoor manufacturing and research; and an IMU industrial‑mixed‑use district to channel transition uses such as gyms, dog daycares or indoor recreation into designated areas while preserving core industrial zones.

Standards consolidation and administrative changes: The consultant recommended consolidating general development standards (site triangles, fences, accessory structures, permitted encroachments, exterior lighting, landscape and parking) into cohesive code sections, revising parking ratios and flexibilities (including parking exemptions for small businesses or existing buildings), strengthening landscape standards (native species, installation and maintenance, and species diversity requirements), and updating administrative processes such as land development permit triggers and a formal zoning text interpretation process.

Nonconformities and reinvestment incentives: The draft addresses nonconforming uses, structures, and site characteristics so that a single nonconforming element (for example, landscaping or lighting) would not render an entire lot nonconforming. The consultant also proposed allowing vertical expansion for nonconforming single‑family and two‑family structures — for example, permitting a second story to continue an existing nonconforming plane without requiring a variance in certain cases — to encourage reinvestment rather than demolition.

Council and planning board input: Councilors asked how the package would be presented (as a single complete replacement), and planners said a public draft containing actual code language will be released in the spring, followed by review and comment. Planning board members and a planning board alternate praised the user‑friendliness and digital accessibility recommendations and urged the project team to address longstanding nonconforming unit conversion issues that affect many older multistory dwellings in Bangor.

Next steps: Staff said this presentation represents conceptual direction; the next phase will be a first public draft with actual ordinance language, after which the council and public can review and comment on specific code text.","A planning consultant presented a proposed rewrite of Bangor’s land‑use code that would reorganize residential, commercial, industrial and overlay districts, remove some density caps, add clear design controls and consolidate development standards. Councilors and planning board members discussed next steps toward a public draft.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585398,"Bangor officials urge Maine CDC to reconsider excluding city from maternal-child nursing RFP",1067,2326000,3393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671226-47304e3e3219bd4173a3fe998a58640b&start=2326&end=3393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671226-47304e3e3219bd4173a3fe998a58640b/thumbnail_2326000.jpg","/articles/6585398/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Bangor-officials-urge-Maine-CDC-to-reconsider-excluding-city-from-maternal-child-nursing-RFP","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585398-8d3cb58d27370eb56ad3f141d41a1b5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182368&Signature=haK2Jkrmoa-lGjOoXb1jlrzlMzVZ0fRikM0AXLh0wfiNJSOa4qZvuKTjZGBYrbG~F-MIzdh9GQto32056GtcEvnmfwMgJUfW6Ar~O7VyLx-xWaOfwWKIqwsXhu60K1rYvljl~ez2DOO1YduoUjetjsuDfkyO0p~qNHIug1pRIj~ju9JAB7cBJgHImzw9Q3yxNDunFZeOuDFlq7UKDzp7anY8Tqj3KeakZNRyjZw7JbXgbH3y4ioEQsPJWsQ6NTuDTHhHCfm1tzIlQOE~cJtbbeH2qaV2N9KJZ1ayJMw4CXKnNmlWDq~LZNfNhGLsOYFtf7cPx6SUKxXodenP4EpxLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Carolyn Lear and Bangor Public Health officials told the City Council that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) posted a request for proposals (RFP) that excludes applicants from Northern and Eastern Maine, an action that would end Bangor’s current contract to provide maternal and child health public health nursing on Sept. 30.

“Bangor Public Health has 2 public health nurses on staff,” Lear said, noting the service is funded through a Maine CDC contract supported by federal block grants. Public health staff said they were surprised to find the RFP omitted their jurisdiction after decades of delivering in‑home maternal and child health services.

Why it matters: Bangor Public Health leaders said their two nurses provide home visits and direct care integrated with local services such as WIC, housing and outreach programs; that local infrastructure and trust are difficult to replicate quickly; and that Maine CDC’s replacement plan could leave patients with less robust services. “This had been services that we have had at Bangor Public Health for decades,” said Jen Guterman, director of Bangor Public Health. Guterman said the city’s program traces to referrals as far back as 1990.

State response and city concerns: According to city staff, Maine CDC replied in a letter (included in the council packet) and offered to increase the city’s FIG (infrastructure) funding to cover the two nursing positions for two years, while the RFP would create a five‑year contract. City staff called that response inadequate because it would require Bangor to redesign programs with only temporary funding and because Maine CDC’s direct nursing staff currently report being “stretched thin” in the region.

Program details and local capacity: Jenny Doyle, Bangor’s health promotion manager, described services the city nurses provide that she said are not standard for the state program, including taking buses or formula directly to families, conducting home visits wherever clients are located, bringing vaccines or conducting STI testing in homes, and listening to an infant’s heartbeat during visits. Doyle said these low‑barrier services are critical for people experiencing unstable housing or substance use disorders. “We go to meet them wherever they are,” Doyle said.

Scope: Guterman told the council the city’s maternal‑child caseload is variable but currently totals about 217 clients who receive multiple visits; she said the service is offered without regard to a client’s ability to pay. Councilors and planning board members pressed staff for steps the city could take, including sending formal letters to state officials and engaging the legislative delegation and local health partners.

Council response and next steps: Councilors recommended pursuing formal advocacy. Guterman asked the council to consider requesting Maine CDC to pull and revise the RFP and to engage those jurisdictions and municipal health departments that have long provided the service. Councilor Turnbull (as recorded in the meeting) and others recommended involving oversight committees and hospital partners, noting regional loss of obstetric units and possible increased demand on nursing services.

What the city may do: City staff said they could accept the two‑year FIG funds as a fallback while pursuing advocacy, and they are exploring ways to bill for services (for example, lactation or mental health) to increase future financial sustainability if Maine CDC proceeds. Guterman asked the council for permission to continue coordinated advocacy and for their consent to push for reconsideration of the RFP.

Evidence: The discussion and concerns are drawn from city manager Carolyn Lear’s presentation and extended remarks by Jen Guterman and Jenny Doyle during the City Council meeting. The city packet included Maine CDC’s letter; city staff summarized its contents and expressed disagreement with several of the letter’s claims.","City Manager Carolyn Lear and Bangor Public Health leaders told the City Council that a Maine CDC request for proposals excludes Northern and Eastern Maine and would end the city-run maternal and child health public health nursing contract on Sept. 30, risking loss of long-standing, locally integrated services supporting about 217 clients.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves motion (text as recorded in minutes) by roll call

Consultant outlines citywide zoning overhaul to simplify districts, update design controls and ease housing conversions

Bangor officials urge Maine CDC to reconsider excluding city from maternal-child nursing RFP