Disclaimer: The views I express here are my own and should NOT be construed as speaking for the City of Bangor or the City Council of Bangor.

City Council Workshop

You can read the meeting agenda here.

Proposed Zoning Code Overhaul

A presentation was given on a comprehensive update to Bangor’s zoning and land development codes, the first full replacement since 1991. The goal is to modernize, simplify, and clarify the regulations.

Key Proposed Changes:

• General Controls: Eliminate artificial density caps like dwelling units per acre and instead focus on building size, location, and parking. Modern form and design controls would be added, such as averaging front setbacks and establishing “build-to zones”.
• Residential Districts: Seven new residential districts are proposed, categorized into three groups: rural preservation (RRA), areas within the growth boundary but outside I-95 (R1, R2, R3), and urban residential (RU1, RU2, RMF). These changes aim to better reflect existing neighborhoods, allow diverse housing options like cottage courts, and address non-conforming lots.
• Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts: Six districts are proposed, including Neighborhood Mixed-Use, Downtown (replacing the “Triple District”), General Commercial, and Regional Commercial. The goal is to better differentiate between auto-oriented corridor development and larger regional uses.
• Industrial Districts: Three new districts are proposed: General Industrial (for uses with outside impacts), Light Industrial (for indoor uses like assembly and research), and Industrial Mixed-Use (for older industrial areas transitioning to new uses like gyms or dog daycares).
• Special Purpose & Overlay Districts: Most districts, like the Airport Development and Bass Park districts, will be maintained. The Government and Institutional district may be reoriented toward large, campus-style facilities. The Solar Array Overlay district would be eliminated and its rules moved to use standards.
• Development Standards: General standards for things like fences, lighting, and accessory structures will be consolidated into one section. Parking regulations will be holistically reviewed, with considerations for revised ratios, expanded flexibilities, bicycle parking requirements, EV charging standards, and potential parking maximums in walkable areas like downtown.
• Administration: Administrative sections will be reorganized for clarity. The presenters recommended creating a streamlined administrative review path for minor site developments, which currently go to the Planning Board. They also proposed allowing non-conforming single and two-family homes to build additions vertically or to the rear without needing a variance, to encourage reinvestment.

City Manager Update

The City Manager provided updates on three items:

1. Bangor Public Health Nursing Program: The most urgent issue is the Maine CDC’s decision to end its contract with Bangor Public Health for maternal and child health (MCH) nursing services, effective September 30. The state’s new Request for Proposals (RFP) for these federally funded services excludes all applicants in northern and eastern Maine.
   • City’s Position: Health officials stated the state’s justification—citing high vacancy rates and cost savings—is insufficient and inaccurate. Bangor has provided these services for decades (since at least 1990), has deep community partnerships, and offers integrated support for complex cases involving homelessness and substance use that a new state-run program cannot easily replicate. The city fears a disruption in services for the 217 clients currently on their caseload.
   • The Ask: The city manager and public health director asked the council for support in “being noisy” and formally requesting that the Maine CDC revoke the RFP.
2. University of Maine Medical School: The City Manager noted that the University of Maine is studying the possibility of establishing a medical school. She will complete an official survey in her capacity as manager to support locating the school in the Bangor region and will forward the survey to council members to complete as well.
3. Maine Municipal Association (MMA) Election: A slate of candidates has been presented for the MMA executive committee. The council was asked to provide any feedback by the end of the day on Thursday before the city votes.

City Council Meeting

You can read the meeting agenda here.

City Business

The council unanimously passed a consent agenda which included authorizing applications for grants for the airport and transit funds, and a contract for airport stormwater system maintenance. These were items referred from previous committee meetings.

First Readings

• Amending the Land Development Code, Section 165-105 Rural Residence and Agriculture District to Allow, as Conditional Uses, Private Schools, Training Facilities and Recreational Uses on Major Arterials Only
  • Reviewed at the Business & Economic Development Committee meeting of August 4, 2025. (Click here)
• Amending Chapter 228, Article V, Safe Zones
  • This would add Taylor Field to the list of safe zones.
  • Reviewed at the Business & Economic Development Committee meeting of August 18, 2025. (Click here)

Censure of Councilor Joseph Leonard

The only item of new business was an order to censure City Councilor Joseph Leonard for public remarks made during a budget workshop on May 7th. The order stated that Councilor Leonard’s comments about a city personnel matter violated a city employee’s right to confidentiality under state law and that he acted outside the scope of his authority.

The proceedings included:

• Procedural Debate: A debate occurred over whether the meeting constituted a proper hearing as required by the city’s Code of Ethics. A motion to declare the procedure improper for not following the Code of Ethics’ requirement of notice and hearing failed in a 6-3 vote. A subsequent motion to postpone the matter to September 8th to allow time for a proper hearing also failed, 6-3.
• Public Comment and Councilor Discussion: I think it best not to editorialize the debate here and allow you to view it for yourself. The “New Business” portion of the meeting begins at the 18 minutes and 31 seconds mark of the YouTube recording of the meeting. (Click here)
• Outcome: The council voted 6-2 to approve the censure order. Councilor Leonard was not permitted to vote on the matter.