BATH

Bath Iron Works may get an height exemption from the Planning Board for its proposed Ultra Hall renovation if it plants buffers in the area — an offer that “underwhelmed” one member.

The Planning Board approved BIW’s request for two site plan approvals Tuesday that will help the defense contractor make additions and changes to the hall it says it needs to stay competitive. 

General Dynamics wants to begin building a 51,315-square-foot building, approximately 11 stories tall, this year. It would be located at the south end of the shipyard, adjacent to the existing 68,000-square foot Ultra Hall.

The blast/paint hall, a boiler plant, a hazardous waste storage and disposal building, and a water collection and treatment tank building all must be moved or demolished in the project, which would be completed in 2015.

In exchange for waivers necessary to build the Ultra Hall addition — including a height waiver — BIW offered to provide some landscaping to serve as buffers at the north end of the complex near the existing parking lot, and to add a covered picnic area at South End Park.

Several committee members mentioned they would have preferred to see something more substantial from BIW. 

Board member Cal Stilphen said he was “underwhelmed” by the offers.

Board member John Swenson said he’d have preferred that BIW make changes to its sewage system. Currently, some of the sewage system combines rain water and snow runoff with sanitary disposal, which must be treated. An official from BIW said that the sewage change-over is proceeding anyway, and would be done without the trade-off.

Peter Owen, public works director, said he had received the information on expected sewerage flow too late to determine whether the new building would cause problems for Bath’s sewage system. 

City arborist Tom Hoerth agreed to a three-year replacement plan for the new trees BIW is planning to plant at the north end of the complex. 

The strip of grass and trees will take 2 feet from the existing road surface; however, Police Chief Michael Field said he believed the narrower road would calm traffic in the area rather than causing problems at the corner of Leeman Highway and Washington Street.

In the end, the board approved the site plans. However, they did not approve sending the contract zoning change to the City Council.  

Board member Andy Omo wanted to see more done for the immediate neighbors of the Ultra Hall, who would have additional view impact and could experience more noise, though BIW said their plan for noise abatement was working well.

No neighbors came to this meeting to speak during the public hearing section.

The contract rezoning was tabled until 6 p.m. Sept. 17. At that time, Hoerth may have a determination whether or not there is space available for trees and other plantings to help shield the industrial section of the complex from view.

In a related matter, the city is considering whether to amend a previous tax incremental financing arrangement affecting Wing Farm Park and a small portion of BIW.  In the new agreement, if passed, Bath would forego property tax to help the company finance its upgrades.

“In order to improve our competitive position to win future work, BIW must reduce the cost of building ships in Bath, Maine, to a level the Navy can afford and at a price which is lower than our Mississippi competitors,” the company said in its TIF proposal to the city.