City of Presque Isle Maine Comprehensive Plan a Guide to Future Growth and Resource Conservation Presque Isle, Me

The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine Town Documents Maine Government Documents 2007 City of Presque Isle Maine Comprehensive Plan A Guide to Future Growth and Resource Conservation Presque Isle, Me. Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs This Plan is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine Town Documents by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. City of Presque Isle, Maine 2007 Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents I.) Vision Statement – summarizes desired community character in terms of economic development, natural & cultural resources, transportation, land uses and Community role within the region.- Page 1 II.) Public Participation Summary- Planning Board efforts to involve public, information sources (input from City departments, City committees, other state & local agencies & public hearings) – Page 1 III.) Regional Coordination- Local involvement in NMDC activities & efforts, L.E.A.D. activities & US Rt.#1 Corridor Management efforts, as example-Page 1 IV.) Core Data, Information & Analysis • Future Land Use Plan - Pages 2 to 16 • Land Use - Pages 17 to 47 • Population & Demographics - Pages 48 to 59 • Economy - Pages 60 to 75 • Housing - Pages 76 to 91 • Transportation - Pages 92 to 121 • Recreation - Pages 122 to 137 • Natural Resources - Pages 138 to 169 i. Water Resources ii. Critical Natural Resources iii. Historic & Archaeological Resources iv. Agricultural & Forestry Resources • Public Facilities & Services - Pages 170 to 207 • Fiscal Capacity & Capital - Pages 208 to 214 Investment Plan V.) Maps and Supporting Appendices • Comprehensive Plan Base Map • Growth Areas Map • Composite Existing Zoning & Growth Areas Map • Transportation Map • Development Constraints Map • Composite Growth & Development Constraints Map • Critical Natural Resources Map • Water Resources Map • Soils Map • Topography Map • Public Utilities Map-Water System • Public Utilities Map-Sewer System • Appendix A – Public Participation, Information & Education Efforts • Appendix B – “2008” – Five Year Capital Improvement Plan • Appendix C – Finding of Consistency with Growth Management Act City of Presque Isle, Maine PLANNING and DEVELOPMENT I.-VISION STATEMENT The City of Presque Isle’s municipal Planning Board and City Council, with technical assistance from the Planning & Development Department staff, working through this municipal comprehensive plan will direct & coordinate a planning and development process which: (a) conserves and protects important and significant natural resources, (b) engages residents and stakeholders, (c) identifies appropriate goals and objectives, (d) assesses community planning and development opportunities, (e) preserves and enhances our city’s unique character, rural heritage and cultural resources, (f) and addresses issues of importance to residents and stakeholders. II.-Public Participation Summary Work on this 2007 City of Presque Isle Comprehensive Plan has spanned a multi-year period [beginning in 1997. Public input has been solicited & sought primarily through the public hearing process, as established in the City’s Charter. Multiple public hearings were held by the City of Presque Isle’s Planning Board in August, 2007 and subsequent public hearings were held in September & October, 2007 by the City Council. Records of those public hearings are available through the City Clerk’s office and a “Summary of Hearing Comments” is included in the Appendix “A” of this document, along with media stories, which indicate public information efforts to garner citizen input into the planning process. News articles appeared in both the “In The City” column of the Star Herald and as a series of regular articles throughout the summer of 2007. Comments made by the citizenry of the City of Presque Isle were considered and incorporated where appropriate. In addition, to the public hearing process, input into the preparation of this comprehensive was provided by the various municipal departments and their subcommittees (ex. Airport Advisory Committee, Recreation & Parks Advisory Committee, Industrial Council, Library Board of Trustees, etc.) III.-Regional Coordination Efforts The City of Presque Isle, Maine is an active member of the Northern Maine Development District and the City participates in the many programs, project opportunities and issue discussions coordinated and administered by that Development District. In addition, the City of Presque Isle has contracted with the Northern Maine Development District to prepare portions of this comprehensive plan update, thereby further assuring coordination of land use & development interests and concerns. Finally, the City of Presque Isle has coordinated with the surrounding and adjoining communities, so that potential growth and development decisions, which may have mutual impacts, are openly discussed and coordinated to the degree possible. Page 1 There has been, and continues to be, coordination between the City of Presque Isle and the City of Caribou on several fronts, like the US. Rt.1 Corridor Management Plan and many water quality matters. The adjacent communities of Westfield, Mapleton, Chapman & Castle Hill formed the very first school administrative district and continue to provide joint educational opportunities to their resident populations. The examples of coordination and shared services in this area are many and are not fully enumerated herein. GROWTH AREAS Overview: “Growth Areas” in the City of Presque Isle have been defined by certain recognizable geographic boundaries from a time prior to the adoption of zoning standards. The “Growth Areas” are those locations along major arterials and collector roads where there is reasonable expectation that pubic water and sewer services can and will be provided. In the south, the growth area boundary is the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railroad overpass on U.S. Route 1. Presently, the northerly boundary of growth area along U.S. Route 1 is the Aroostook River, although a small Suburban Commercial Zone exists north of the bridge, it is not considered a growth area since the newly-enacted frontage requirements require any developer to purchase at least two, if not three or more, parcels to achieve the required frontage. Even with the frontage, the development density cannot exceed one 5,000 sq, ft. building per net commercial acre. In effect, growth is being discouraged in this area. To the west of U.S. Route 1, the growth area follows the Parsons Street Connector to Parsons Road, where it goes northerly to the old Aroostook Valley Railroad crossing. From that point, the boundary follows a line due west, to include Skyway Industrial Park, south to the Northern Maine Fairgrounds, and then extending westward to the Urban Compact Line on Industrial Street (Rte. 163). On the opposite side of the Presque Isle Stream, the boundary extends southerly along Chapman Road to the Urban Compact Line. To the east of U.S. Route 1, the northerly boundary follows the Aroostook River downriver to a point 100’ north of Merritt Brook. The line then moves westerly along Route 163 to the intersection with East State Street, following East State Street to the intersection with the Centerline Road. The boundary follows the Centerline Road southerly to a point that would intersect an extension of Green Hill Drive. The boundary follows that imaginary line to Green Hill Drive, where it again intersects with U.S. Route 1. The boundaries of the existing zoning and the “Urban & Rural” growth areas are depicted on the maps at the end of this comprehensive plan update. Page 2 Future Land Use Plan May, 2007 Overview: This Future Land Use Plan for the City of Presque Isle, Maine combines and synthesizes the information stated in various plan sections and plan elements enumerated throughout this document and thereby provides a “community vision” or plan for the future of our community. This Future Land Use Plan projects the “vision” for our community over a planning period of 15 years by identifying areas within our City which are suitable for growth, the types of land use suggested and desired, and it also addresses certain areas within our community that are less suited for growth & development which should be maintained “as is” in a natural state. (See the Presque Isle Growth Area Map for anticipated boundaries for growth with our community). The community of Presque Isle is expected to grow gradually in all sectors of land use & development over the next 10-15 yrs and it is expected to appear very much like it does today (2007). The very noticeable growth of commercial development experienced in the area of Maysville Street and U.S.#1 is expected to continue, albeit more slowly, with “in-filling” and continued concentration of commercial use within that general area. There appears to be sufficient available land within that area of the community to absorb future commercial growth. The urban compact area should be expected to remain the urban compact area and efforts by the municipal government should be focused upon: • Maintaining our rural community identity and character • Enhancing & conserving prime agricultural lands and visual appeal of our community • Revitalizating the community downtown as the “Heart of the Community of Presque Isle” • Discouraging strip development of all types along the roadways entering into the community.

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