The primary focus of the city of Presque Isle’s Planning & Development Department is to direct and coordinate a planning and development process that engages residents and stakeholders; identifies appropriate goals and objectives, assesses community planning and development opportunities, preserves and enhances our city’s unique character & heritage and addresses issues of importance to residents and stakeholders. The Planning & Development Department has a staff of eight professionals, including a Director, Planner, Tax Assessor, Code Enforcement Officer, two Assistant Assessors, a Project Development Specialist and a Planning Assistant.
During the last two years:
• The Department staff has continued its active role, on behalf of the city, concerning the Aroostook County Transportation Study, examining and commenting to the Maine Department of Transportation’s proposal for a North/South by-pass route and possible corridor alignments.
• The Planning & Development Department, in conjunction with the Presque Isle Industrial Council, has developed a new Tax Increment Financing Policy for the City and worked on the re-designation and redefinition of the City’s Pine Tree Zone. Both tasks represent important economic development initiatives for the community.
• The Department staff, working with the volunteer Planning Board members, has just completed the updating of the 2007 City Comprehensive Plan.
• The Department’s personnel continue to provide staff support to the Downtown Revitalization Committee in their Main Street revitalization efforts. A master planning effort for the downtown is presently underway and a full report will be available in late April, 2008.
• The Department has just begun working cooperatively with the Maine Department of Transportation and the Caribou City Council on a U.S. Rt.1 Corridor Management Study impacting both communities.
Other activities of the Department during the year 2007 have included assisting the Planning Board in its review and preliminary approval of new residential subdivisions, approval of several access/egress/parking layout plans, multiple zone changes, and consideration of a number of amendments to the Land Use and Development Code.
On the economic development side of the Department, in late 2006, the Planning and Development Department staff:
• Participated in a successful Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Development Assistance Grant application to solidify job creation at Connect North America, which occupies the former MBNA facility and which will eventually employ over 300 people.
• Processed several new revolving loans through the Presque Isle Development Fund (PIDF) totaling $550,000.
It is important to note here that the city’s locally controlled revolving loan fund, which began in 1987, has loaned nearly $4.3 million to 72 local businesses and at year-end had a balance of approximately $1.4 million available to re-loan to potential businesses. The fund has helped create and/or retain roughly 680 jobs within the community since its inception.
The Planning and Development Department is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of a small sewer system at Echo Lake. The system, licensed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, serves 14 users on the southeasterly shore of Echo Lake.
Emergency Management is another responsibility of the Planning and Development Department. The City of Presque Isle has a long-standing commitment to emergency management. Our City’s Emergency Management Director spent a substantial amount of time:
• During the early part of 2006, coordinating security/access control for the Biathlon Junior World Championships.
• In addition, he spent time updating and reformatting the City’s Emergency Operation Plan (EOP), planning a FAA-required emergency drill at the Northern Maine Regional Airport.
The Planning and Development Department committed a substantial amount staff time, during of the summer and fall of 2006, coordinating the dredging project for the restoration of Mantle Lake.
Finally, the Planning and Development Department staff, in addition to its diverse regular duties, has continued to provide staff support to four volunteer city boards and committees: the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Presque Isle Development Fund Board of Trustees and the Board of Assessment Review.
In 2007, the Department’s budget was $373,625 and the Department actually expended $332,514.83. Our 2008 “Approved” budget is set at $365,775.
Ken Arndt is director of planning and development for the city of Presque Isle. If you would like any additional information regarding our Department, please contact him at 764-2527 or online at karndt@presqueisleme.us