GARDINER — As work progresses to clean up and redevelop the former T.W. Dick properties along the edge of downtown Gardiner, city officials have scheduled a public hearing at Wednesday’s City Council meeting to hear the updates on the process.

Since late 2015, city officials have secured more than $600,000 in funding from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Environmental Protection, the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Those funds are dedicated to cleaning up the industrial contaminants that have been found on three of the four T.W. Dick properties the city acquired so they could be redeveloped.

The Gardiner City Council will get an update Wednesday on efforts to clean up the former T.W. Dick complex. Staff file photo by Andy Molloy

Nick Sabatine, from Ransom Consulting, is expected to give a presentation at the public hearing to provide an update on what’s happening to clean up those parcels.

Council members also are expected to hear a presentation by members of city staff on the progress of efforts to support economic development efforts on outer Brunswick Avenue, which is the stretch of U.S. Route 201 that runs from the location of the former National Guard armory out to Interstate 295.

When city officials adopted the city’s most recent comprehensive plan, that area was identified as an area to target high-quality development as part of an effort to expand the city’s tax base.

“We’re talking about how we’re handling that,” said Patrick Wright, Gardiner’s economic development coordinator, “and talk about recent efforts to update the regulatory approach.”

That means changes to zoning and land use along the corridor to manage development. The comprehensive plan details three separate “character areas” along the corridor — a mixed-use village area from the armory to the Old Brunswick Road intersection, a planned development area from the Old Brunswick Road intersection to Blueberry Hill, and the planned highway development area from Blueberry Hill to I-295.

Each of those areas would have development standards that reflect the mix of uses allowed.

“The zones are changing to allow for more mixed uses, and it adds the planned highway development zone, which is new,” said Barb Skelton, Gardiner assistant planner and code enforcement officer.

Also on the agenda:

• consideration of a resolution to spend local match funds for the Cobbossee Trail project;

• consideration of liquor license renewals for The Bench and Canton Village;

• consideration of a pawnbroker’s license for the Gardiner Trading Post and Pawn Shop, which is under new ownership;

• consideration for special event permits for the Maine Adventure Relay and Abigail’s birthday party;

• consideration of sewer and property tax poverty abatements; and

• consideration of board and committee appointments.

The City Council meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the council chamber at 6 Church St.

Jessica Lowell — 621-5632

jlowell@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @JLowellKJ

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