Board: Lewiston City Council

Met: Tuesday

Marijuana zones
Issue: Voters approved the sale of medical marijuana in November 2009, but state rules regulating the new industry were settled only this year. The state created eight zones in Maine, saying only one major dispensary would be allowed in each zone. In Androscoggin County, that dispensary is slated to be built on Center Street in Auburn.
Lewiston officials say they are still concerned about small growers setting up shop in the city and have proposed some rules to determine where they can be located.
The Scoop: A proposed land-use code amendment would not allow small growers, those keeping medical marijuana for between two and five patients, to be located near churches or child care facilities and would mandate background checks for officers, board members and employees of the distributors.
Up Next: Councilors approved the amendment by a 7-0 vote on the first reading. They’ll take it up for a second vote in December.

Review expiration
Issue: Larger development projects can take longer to complete, sometimes surpassing the deadlines set by the city. Councilors were asked Tuesday to extend deadlines to five years for projects that have been reviewed and approved by the city.
The Scoop: The city’s current rules require developers to begin “substantial development” within 24 months of city approval; otherwise, those approvals expire. City boards have determined substantial development to be near completion.
Up Next: Councilors unanimously approved extending deadlines on final reading.

Single-lane Bartlett
Issue: Bartlett Street is already one-way southbound between Sabattus and College streets. But police say businesses and residents in the area, both with limited off-street parking, can turn the two-lane road into a gridlocked mess.
The Scoop: Police are proposing making the road a single lane, eliminating the winter parking prohibition there and adding a one-hour limit for parking. Taken together, the moves are designed to make it easier for cars to travel through the road.
Up Next: Councilors unanimously approved the change.

Parking rates
Issue: The city sells long-term parking passes to large employers, allowing them to purchase entire blocks of spaces in the city’s parking garages. The passes cost $1,990 for five years.
The Scoop: Saying the city needs to compete with suburban properties to lure developers, city staff proposed a new rate structure for large employers. Under the new structure, companies that purchase more than 50 parking spaces would pay the current annual rate — $600 — minus a 10 percent discount.
Up Next: Councilors agreed to the change, approving it by a 7-0 unanimous vote.

 Next meeting: The next regular meeting of the Lewiston City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Contact government reporter Scott Taylor via phone at 689-2846 or via e-mail at [email protected].