Hampden council backs dangerous building action, weighs data center moratorium

The Hampden Town Council met Sept. 14 to discuss a dangerous building at 131 Old County Road, a possible data center moratorium, outdoor facility and fee ordinance changes, and a subdivision appeal process. Councilors gave staff the go-ahead to pursue the dangerous building process and signaled support for a 180-day data center moratorium, though the town charter limits moratoriums to 60 days at a time. Councilor Dennis Marble agreed to serve on the Penobscot County Budget Committee.

Key points

• Councilors reached consensus to direct staff and the town attorney to begin the dangerous building process for 131 Old County Road, which officials said has drawn complaints and was the site of drug activity.
• Councilors were divided on a data center moratorium, with some favoring a pause to let the Planning Board define parameters and others saying existing zoning already covers the concerns; the matter will go to a vote at the Oct. 5 meeting.
• Staff said the town charter limits moratoriums to 60 days at a time, renewable up to three times, rather than a single 180-day period.
• Proposed outdoor facilities ordinance changes would set fixed park hours (such as 6 a.m.) and move the VFW recreation area closing time from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. in response to neighborhood complaints about lights.
• Fee ordinance changes would remove hunting permit fees on public land, which a game warden said cannot be charged, and drop an earth moving fee that no longer applies.
• Councilor Walter Jakubas asked for more data on pool fees and cost recovery; staff said the information would be provided at the public hearing.
• Jakubas proposed adding an administrative appeal process to the subdivision ordinance, but staff relayed that Maine Municipal Association legal counsel advised against it; the proposal will go to a future council vote.

Next steps

• Staff and the town attorney will prepare a notice and hearing package for the 131 Old County Road dangerous building process.
• A data center moratorium vote is expected at the Oct. 5 council meeting, which includes a scheduled public hearing.
• Staff will bring pool fee and cost recovery figures to the public hearing.
• The subdivision ordinance amendment will be placed on a future council agenda for a vote.

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