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Portland Eyes New Development Restrictions To Commercial Waterfront

Robert F. Bukaty
/
Associated Press
In this Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 photo, an Icelandic cargo ship is loaded with containers in Portland, Maine.

Portland's City Council is looking at new development restrictions to the city's commercial waterfront in response to fishermen's fears that they are being crowded out by the city's rapid development. Willis Spear docks his lobster boat at a Portland pier. At a City Council meeting Monday night he said the wharves are designed to facilitate the loading and unloading of water-born cargo - commerce that simply cannot take place elsewhere.

"The wharf is not made for human occupation," Spear said. "The forefathers of Portland knew this and zoned and taxed accordingly. But developers and some wharf owners don't see the hazards of people living and working on a wharf with only one entrance and one exit when it's within a flood zone, and insists it's their right to change zoning so they can make a profit."

The new zoning would reduce the area on the water side of Commercial Street where some non-marine-related businesses, such as restaurants and retail stores, can be located. It would also eliminate opportunities for developers to petition for specific exceptions.

Pier owners say the new rule is too restrictive. The council agreed to take a final vote on the issue at its next meeting.

 

 

A Columbia University graduate, Fred began his journalism career as a print reporter in Vermont, then came to Maine Public in 2001 as its political reporter, as well as serving as a host for a variety of Maine Public Radio and Maine Public Television programs. Fred later went on to become news director for New England Public Radio in Western Massachusetts and worked as a freelancer for National Public Radio and a number of regional public radio stations, including WBUR in Boston and NHPR in New Hampshire.