Economic & Community Development Committee Minutes
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Meeting date:
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Gardiner Economic & Community Development Committee
September 14, 2023
Present: Chair Debby Willis, Carrie Arsenault, Colin Frey, Gardiner Economic Director Melissa Lindley, Mayor Pat Hart, Christopher Leake, and Tamara Whitmore.
- The meeting began at 5:38 pm.
- Approval of June 8 minutes: Carrie makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes as presented from the June 8, 2023 meeting. Melissa seconds the motion. The motion passes.
- Brownfields Assessment Updates:
- Phase 1 assessment has been completed on the Feedstore property. Building owner will be approached about pursuing Phase II
- 279-282 Water Street - Phase 1 investigation has been performed. Report of findings due soon. Owner is Patrick Wright.
- Paperboard mill would be a great location to pursue for Brownfields.
- Parking Discussion
- Downtown Parking Inventory - mostly complete.
- Almost 1,200 spaces within downtown area
- Mike Miclon of Johnson Hall suggests Wes Littlefield be their parking lot liaison.
- Next up: to start a draft parking map
- Downtown Parking Inventory - mostly complete.
- Downtown Master Plan Action Items
- Melissa shared a list of actions from the Downtown Master Plan
- Hydraulic & Hydrological study to develop flood loss mitigations - as part of climate resilience grant applications?
- Add new guidelines/standards for Historic Structure flood mitigation/management to HPC Land Use Ordinance for substantial improvements of historic structures in floodplain
- Change streetscape for traffic calming and beautification at gateways to downtown where speeds are reduced - talk to MDOT re: 201 gateway during repaving next year
- Extend trail networks, link to waterfront park, to become recreation destination and provide economic value - look for grant opportunities
- Enhance gateways to downtown - Should we move the gateways if they are not at the ideal spot? How do visitors know when they have “arrived” to Gardiner?
- Redevelop TW Dick Lot - this is underway, it is listed for sale and some developers are interested
- Subdivisions for development at edge of Hannaford parking lot - is this even a good idea, since the area floods regularly
- Reimagined City Hall: mixed use civic project - assessing the property and awaiting a final report
- Development on Chapman’s Lot - who owns it? Will need to look at City Tax Maps. Does it need a Brownsfield assessment?
- Winter & Water Street area development, connecting Cobbossee corridor to downtown
- Include private lots in parking assessments - being worked on
- After hours shared parking arrangement for private lots - being worked on.
- Develop downtown parking guide - will be addressed with the parking issue currently being worked on.
- Handicap parking on Water Street - to be addressed as part of the accessibility project.
- Accessible sidewalks - to be addressed as part of the accessibility project.
- Accessible route from parking to downtown - to be addressed as part of the accessibility project.
- Redesign Arcade parking lot - this fiscal year we will be hiring an engineer to come up with design options.
- Arcade Access Improvements - as part of redesign plan
- The waterfront park into trail systems - partly accomplished via Cobbossee Stream bike trail extension work. Accomplishing the Merrymeeting trail will also connect the waterfront (and Gardiner) to Topsham/Brunswick area.
- Shared use agreement for Key Bank ATM parking area - as part of parking plan?
- Cobbossee Trail stub on north side of stream for clear pedestrian path from parking - by Emery’s
- Lane shifts using paint-only on Brunswick Ave hill to be bike friendly - Need to connect with MDPT during the repaving project next year
- Add green stormwater infrastructure to mitigate flooding - as part of the Arcade parking lot redesign?
- Updated signage plan - as part of parking and Wayfinding project
- Community identity & marketing strategy
- Accessibility Study will be done this fiscal year.
- Funding Opportunities
- Downtown Revitalization Letter of Interest is due in January. The requirement of this grant is that a “blight” area must be determined and that a 25% match is required.
- Melissa shared a list of actions from the Downtown Master Plan
Adjourn at 6:55 pm. Respectfully submitted by Tamara Whitmore