Bangor Livable Communities Committee revisits age-friendly plan, hears accessibility concerns

The Bangor Livable Communities Committee met to review progress on the city's age-friendly/livable communities strategic plan, covering its eight "domains of livability" and past projects such as the Fit Lot, senior center relocation, and accessibility grants. Much of the discussion centered on real-world accessibility and communication gaps, including concerns raised by a legally blind resident about crosswalk timing and lighting, an 88-year-old resident's concerns about downtown parking and sidewalk access, and residents' worries about new development near existing senior housing. The committee agreed to meet again on September 25 to continue reviewing the plan's remaining domains, with housing and community engagement as likely topics.

Key points

• Committee members recapped past Livable Communities projects, including installation of benches in the Cross Insurance Center, relocation of the senior center to Brewer, the Fit Lot at Broadway Park, and an AARP-funded lighting/trail grant for the Kenduskeag trail.
• A resident (identified as Kelly's mother's neighbor advocate, referred to as "F") described elderly residents at Grandview Apartments worrying about noise and disruption from a planned nearby development, and the group discussed better ways to communicate with renters and older residents who lack computer access.
• Staff (Speaker G) said the city may explore requiring developers to post informational signs at project sites, since city outreach currently struggles to reach renters and older residents directly.
• A visually impaired participant described serious safety concerns with existing crosswalks, including insufficient crossing time, lack of audible or lighted signals, and a personal account of nearly being struck while crossing Harvard Street at night; participants discussed adding lighting near curb cuts and crosswalks.
• An 88-year-old Courtland Circle resident raised concerns about downtown accessibility, including handicapped parking spaces located far from curb ramps, and staff said the issue could be addressed through the upcoming Village Partnership Initiative's downtown parking redesign.
• Staff outlined upcoming initiatives including the ADA transition plan, the Village Partnership Initiative (downtown parking, sidewalks, signals), and a possible incentive program for developers who incorporate AARP universal design elements.

Next steps

• Committee to meet again around September 25 to continue reviewing remaining "domains of livability," with housing and community engagement as likely topics.
• Staff to look into requiring/encouraging developers to post project information signs with city contact information at development sites.
• Staff to explore designating a point person at Pinquis Apartments (Vicquis/Pinquis properties) for residents to raise concerns.
• Staff to consider posting notices on community bulletin boards in senior/affordable housing buildings to improve outreach.
• Staff to review handicapped parking placement relative to curb ramps as part of the downtown parking redesign.
• Staff to look into mapping bus stop locations relative to senior/mobility-impaired housing to assess walking distances.
• Staff (Speaker G) to forward information about the Foundation for Social Connection's "Good Neighbor Day" event (September 28) to the committee.
• Chair to send a follow-up email to schedule the next meeting and set the agenda.

Read the full transcript