March 29, 2024
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Planners seek zoning extension for Stinson site

BELFAST – The planning department has recommended that the zoning agreement on the former Stinson Seafoods property be extended for another year.

Work on the proposed marina-residential-retail project stopped more than a year ago when owner Belfast Bridge LLC ran into financial difficulties. The property has been on the market since then. A second potential developer, Westport Capital Partners of Connecticut, considered building a large condominium-marina on the site but abandoned the idea last July.

Belfast Bridge’s $12 million Waukeag Landing project won city approval three years ago under a special contract rezoning clause. Extending that clause until June 2009 will enable the owners to continue marketing the 3-acre property, city planner Wayne Marshall said Monday. Marshall is scheduled to outline his recommendation to the City Council at its Tuesday meeting.

“This is just to provide assurances to the city, the owner and any potential buyers that the contract zoning is in place,” Marshall said.

Under the terms of the contract zoning agreement, along with developing the property, Belfast Bridge also agreed to build a pier and equipment storage area for the city’s commercial fishermen.

Marshall said the extended agreement also would contain a performance clause obligating Belfast Bridge or a new owner to complete the pier portion of the project. Under that portion of the extended agreement, work on the commercial dock must begin by June 1, 2009. The cost to build the dock was estimated at $200,000, he said.

Although the shore portion of the project hardly got off the ground before it was shut down, pilings for the marina were driven into place in spring 2006. Five moorings were removed to accommodate the pilings. Three of the moorings were used by local fishermen; the other two by commercial interests.

“The commercial fishermen dock was a critical element of the original contract. “The dock was intended to provide alternative facilities for the five mooring owners who were displaced by construction of the marine facilities in front of the Stinson Seafoods property,” Marshall said. “It is my opinion that the only persons who have been directly harmed by the failure to construct the original project are the displaced mooring owners.”

Marshall said that Belfast Bridge installed temporary floats for the owners last season and intended to do the same this year.

Marshall said the city’s harbor committee voted unanimously to support his proposal when he told members his plans last month. He said the original layout of the dock would be changed from being connected to the Waukeag Landing marina haul-out facility to a stand-alone dock. He said Belfast Bridge would post an Irrevocable Letter of Credit with the city to ensure the dock gets built at some point.

Marshall said that while he doubted any new owner would build the same project approved under the contract rezoning agreement, keeping it on the books would provide a starting point for the review of any future project.

Marshall said the property was being marketed aggressively, and that he has had discussions with about a dozen interested parties over the past few months. Several interested parties contacted him more than once.

“Some individuals have made multiple inquiries,” Marshall said. “Every one has clearly involved marine development – as what would be expected of a project that has 900 linear feet on the inside of Belfast Bay.”

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

338-9546


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