Planning Division | 389 Congress Street | 4th Floor | Portland, Maine 04101 | 207-874-8719

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wcz policy & zoning process

contact us
 
 
Information and Materials
Process Status
 
 

The City of Portland, has conducted a review of policies and zoning relating to Portland's Central Waterfront, located west of the Maine State Pier and east of the International Marine Terminal.

The Central waterfront is home to fifteen piers, dozens of marine and non-marine businesses, and is the center of the region's fishing economy. In the 1990's policies and zoning for Portland's Central Waterfront were developed to protect traditional marine business while allowing other compatible uses. In 2009, citing a need for increased revenues, eleven commercial property owners in the zone  applied to relax restrictions on development, prompting a policy evaluation for the district.

Information and Materials
 

WCZ Inventory 7-18-11
WCZ Policy Statement
WCZ Zone Text (Track Changes)
WCZ Zone Text, as passed on 12-20-10, Clean Draft
Maine DEP: Request for Zone Amendment Approval
under Shoreland Zoning
WCZ Process Summary Presentation from CC Workshop

Process Status

Following adoption of the revised zoning for the Waterfront Central Zone the City prepared material for submission to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for approval of the new zoning under the Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act. The DEP approved the new zoning in May 2011 and the revised WCZ is currently in effect.

Next Steps

In conjunction with passage of the new zoning, the Portland City Council required that the City Planning Division develop an inventory of uses within the Central Waterfront to provide a baseline to monitor the effects of the new zoning. The required inventory is nearing completion and the results are anticipated to be reported to the City Council and posted at this website over the summer of 2011.

Contact Us

For inquiries WCZ process, please contact:

Bill Needelman, AICP
Senior Planner
Planning and Development Department
City of Portland, Maine
389 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101-3509

(207) 874-8722 tel.
(207) 756-8258 fax.
wbn@portlandmaine.gov