Planning & Urban Development Department | 389 Congress St | Room 308 | Portland, Maine 04101 | 207-874-8721
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Notice of Public Comment Period  (4/24/2012)
2011-2012 City of Portland’s HUD Consolidated Housing and Community Development Annual Action Plan Year 37, Substantial Amendment The Department of Housing and Urban Development released a secondary allocation of Emergency Solutions Grant to the City of Portland in the amount of $53,007, bringing the total amount of ESG funding to $147,242. The proposed budget for the total allocation is listed below. More

Notice of Public Comment Period  (4/24/2012)
2012-2013 City of Portland’s HUD Consolidated Housing and Community Development Annual Action Plan Year 38 More

Public Notice  (4/5/2012)
The former Adams School is proposed to be converted into 16 units of affordable housing. Previous investigations have determined that certain environmental remediation activities may be required prior to and concurrent with redevelopment. An application has been submitted to fund remediation efforts through the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program. DECD’s RLF program is supported by a cooperative agreement with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. More

Enacted Wind Energy Generation Ordinance  (2/24/2012)
Enacted Wind Energy Generation Ordinance The City Council has recently enacted this new ordinance that would allow wind energy generation systems in most city zones subject to height, setback and sound limits and other performance standards, and to restrictions in relation to open spaces, historic/resource protection districts and landmarks. More

Cumberland County HOME Program Consortium  (5/10/2011)
On or about May, 24, 2011, the City of Portland, as lead entity for the Portland/Cumberland County HOME Program Consortium, will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Manchester, NH Field Office for the release of HOME Program funds under Title II of the Cranston Gonzalez Affordable Housing Act of 1996, as amended, to undertake the project described below. More

Cumberland County HOME Program Consortium   (5/6/2011)
On or about June 1, 2011, the City of Portland, as lead entity for the Portland/Cumberland County HOME Program Consortium, will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Manchester, NH Field Office for the release of HOME Program funds under Title II of the Cranston Gonzalez Affordable Housing Act of 1996, as amended, to undertake the project described below. More

Transforming Forest Avenue  (4/26/2011)
Transforming Forest Avenue: The City has embarked on a study to look at the Forest Avenue corridor between Park Ave and Woodford’s Corner. In May and June, the City will be hosting a series of public meetings to discuss ways to improve the corridor in terms of mobility for motorists, buses, cyclists and pedestrians. The study will also looks at land use, exploring innovative ways to leverage transportation and other public investments to stimulate private redevelopment and infill of underutilized properties. Please visit the project website for more information. More

City Examines Transportation Along Major Downtown Street  (4/13/2011)
Public meeting, April 27, to help city improve mobility on Congress Street More

Outstanding Taxes  (3/4/2011)
Planning and Urban Development may not accept any applications if there is a delinquency on the Applicant or the location that the application is being applied for, in any of the following categories: Real Estate Tax, Personal Property Tax, Sewer Assessment, Portland Downtown District Assessment or Snow Removal. This information can be verified by contacting the City of Portland Treasury Office at 874-8660. More

FEMA Flood Plain Mapping  (9/2/2010)
FEMA DFirm Maps available. Included are the preliminary and revised preliminary panels for Cumberland County. More

New Development Review Regulations and Applications go into effect on August 18th, 2010   (8/13/2010)
The revised Article V, Site Plan Ordinance of the Land Use Code , Technical Manual and Design Manual go into effect on August 18th. All applications that are submitted on or after August 18th will be subject to these new standards. More

CDBG Mandatory Meeting for Applicants  (10/15/2009)
CDBG Mandatory Meeting for Applicants will be on Thursday October 22, 2009 at 6:00 pm in the State of Maine Room. Any organization, business or department interested in applying for CDBG funds in this upcoming program year must have a representative attend this meeting. Click here to register. More

Final Peninsula Transit Study Report  (3/12/2009)
Final Peninsula Transit Study Report More

Commercial Street Named a Great Place in America  (10/8/2008)
American Planning Association designates Commercial Street as one of the 10 great streets in the US. More

Portland Receives Award From Partners for Livable Communities  (3/5/2008)
Partners for Livable Communities, at its annual awards reception on March 5, 2008, extends to the City of Portland its "Entrepreneurial American Community" award for the City in efforts to revitalize the Bayside Neighborhood. More

Portland was selected as one of America’s greenest Cities in Organic Gardening Magazine in its February/March Issue  (1/17/2008)
Green Cities By Beth Huxta Organic Gardening Magazine More

Downtown Portland Corporation Board of Directors Names 2007 Business Awards Recipients  (11/27/2007)
The Downtown Portland Corporation awarded Becky's Diner its 2007 Small Business of the Year; the Council on International Educational Exchange its 2007 Business of the Year; and The Portland Sea Dogs for its Economic Development Achievement Award for 2007. More

Loans to Support Creative Economy  (11/1/2007)
In its continuing efforts to support the creative economy, the City of Portland has developed a new loan program. These loans are intended for artists and other individuals starting or expanding creative economy businesses in Portland. More

Portland, Maine named one of "Best Towns 2007" in Outside Magazine  (8/20/2007)
"Outside" Magazine names Portland, Maine as one of "Best Towns 2007". More

HCD Task Force Public Forum  (6/19/2007)
The HCD Task Force is holding a public forum to discuss recommendations for improvement to the HCD Program. Wed. June 20 at 7:00pm State of Maine Room. Contact Amy Grommes Pulaski for more info 874-8731. More

Community Development Committee approves Bayside Land Sale  (6/6/2007)
From 6/6/2007 Portland Press Herald: Panel approves Bayside proposal Atlantic Redevelopment's $3 million plan for Portland's 3.5 acres now will go to the City Council. More

Kiplinger's Names Portland a Top City for Creative People  (5/17/2007)
AUGUSTA, Maine Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine has recognized Portland as one of the country's "best cities" for creative individuals, citing the city's arts and business communities for generating creative energy that attracts mid level professionals to the scenic peninsula. More

The Kiplinger/Richard Florida 25 Best Cities are:  (5/15/2007)
Whether you’re Young and Single, Married with Kids, an Empty Nester, a Mid-Level Professional or a Retiree, Here are Cities Where Creative People like You Will Thrive More

Relocate-America.com releases annual survey results, top ten list  (4/20/2007)
Portland, Maine makes Relocate-America.com's top ten list. More

Housing & Community Development Task Force  (3/16/2007)
A new task force will provide to the City Council recom-mendations regarding process, priorities and public participation for the City of Portland's HCD program. More

The Planning Board is recommending a series of zoning amendments intended to support the Bayside area as an urban dense mixed use neighborhood.  (4/12/2006)
Back in 1999, the Bayside Plan (A New Vision For Bayside) was enacted to help guide the revitilization of Bayside. While the City has a game plan to revitilize Bayside, new zoning was needed to guide new development to meet the objectives of the plan. More

Portland Continues Its Role as One of the Leaders in its Technology Infrastructure as New State-of-the-art Data Center Opens in Downtown  (3/31/2006)
This facility offers companies in Maine, the U.S. and abroad a secure location to keep their servers and other components of their technology infrastructure that needs to be safe, secure and connected for disaster recovery purposes. For more information visit http://www.twcdatacenter.com More

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Bayside Trail Seating Public Art Project

Creative Economy Summit Report

DFirm Preliminary Maps

Technical & Designs Standards

WCZ Policy & Zoning Process



The Planning and Development Department promotes and plans for the future vitality, livability and prosperity of this remarkable City and all its people.

The Planning and Urban Development Department’s work involves overseeing and directing all planning and urban development activities including:

The economy in the Greater Portland region is strong. Downtown Portland, long a measure of the economic health of the region, is thriving. The continuing surge in the regional economy challenges our ability to manage growth. Business, neighborhoods, educational institutions and government all must work together to maximize the benefits of economic development for our quality of life.

Portland is Maine’s largest economic center and its largest residential community. We will continue to work together to maintain that perfect balance, while positioning our city to compete globally in a world-class market.