WATERVILLE — City councilors on Tuesday will consider rezoning two lots off Kennedy Memorial Drive and Carver Street to allow financial institutions or professional offices to be there. 

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the council chambers on the third floor of The Center at 93 Main St.

The Planning Board on Feb. 3 voted 5-0 to recommend that the council rezone 167 Carver St., which is in a residential zone; and 121 Kennedy Memorial Drive, which is in a contract zone. Property owners Leland and Fernande Bard requested the rezoning.

The Bards’ daughter, Celeste Bard, told planners at a public hearing before the vote that with the current zoning, her father cannot sell the property for commercial use, according to Planning Board minutes. Having a commercial building on the site would create property tax revenue, jobs, goods, services and a barrier for nearby Merryfield Avenue residents, she said.

Residents spoke both in favor and against rezoning the properties, with some saying they favor commercial uses there as long as they do not interfere with nearby residential uses.

Conditions planners placed on the recommendation to rezone include that the only permitted uses be for financial institutions and professional offices; that building setbacks be 20 feet from all property lines, except zero feet from Kennedy Memorial Drive; and that parking be set back a minimum of 15 feet from Merryfield Avenue, Carver Street and Kennedy Memorial Drive property lines and a minimum of 5 feet from all other property lines.

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A developer also would be required to plant trees and flowering shrubs at least 15 feet wide along Merryfield and Carver. 

Free-standing business identification signs would be allowed only on the Kennedy Memorial Drive side of the property, and no product brand names may be advertised, according to the conditions.

No driveways would be allowed to be used for vehicle access to or from Merryfield or Carver, vehicles could not back onto Kennedy Memorial Drive, and only right turns would be allowed for vehicles exiting onto Kennedy Memorial Drive.

Any developments on the property would be subject to subdivision and site-plan review and Planning Board approval.

In other matters, councilors are expected to take final votes on whether to have the city take over responsibility and management of Pine Grove Cemetery, and whether to approve spending $9,000 for high-resolution aerial photos for updating the city’s tax maps.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com


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