Bangor City committee reviews years of code changes aimed at removing housing barriers; rental registry update set for March

Councilor Leonard, chair of the Bangor City Business and Non-Development Committee, opened the meeting and asked staff for an update on the city's work to remove regulatory barriers to housing.

A staff presenter summarized changes beginning in 2019 after recommendations from an Affordable Housing working group. The presenter said the city has pursued accessory dwelling unit rules, researched short-term rental regulations, reduced certain lot-size constraints and addressed nonconforming-lot barriers so owners can add units, and added supportive housing and dormitories as allowable uses. The presenter said the state legislative change LD 2003 required density-related code adjustments and that planning staff are preparing recent legislative changes to come forward this summer; staff had hoped to present some of those items in March.

Councilors asked clarifying questions. When asked about dormitories, the presenter said one project is in the planning stage and is awaiting mall-area wastewater improvements before moving forward, and that another potential applicant is considering dormitories as an option. On the rental-registry pilot, Councilor Beck was told many landlords have already registered; staff said state legislation will make registration mandatory rather than voluntary and pledged a full update to the committee at the March meeting.

Councilor Fish asked about a roughly $400,000 Pro Housing grant the city had applied for; staff said Bangor City was not selected in that competitive round.

An agenda item titled strategies regarding an EPG was acknowledged as having been placed on the current agenda in error and was tabled to the next meeting.

The committee did not adopt new regulations or vote on ordinances at this meeting; staff committed to return with the rental-registry update and with the list of planning items tied to recent legislative changes.