Portland-based fishermen and their allies are ramping up their protest against a waterfront development that they say is crowding them out.
The loose coalition of fishermen, advocacy groups, marine and non-marine businesses is seeking a referendum that would toughen up use and development restrictions on and near the wharves of Portland's downtown Commercial street.
Lobstermen such as Keith Lane say working waterfront protections enacted by a referendum 30 years ago have been eroded by zoning variances and poor enforcement, posing an existential threat to their livelihoods.
"Commercial Street is a near-travesty now,” says Lane. “Six, eight months a year, it's very hard to do business on Commercial street, and that's because they have put too much activity in a small area."
The working waterfront group just launched a new social media campaign with a video called "12 Little Wharves" in an effort to drum up public support and the 1500 signatures needed to get the referendum on the city ballot in May. One focus of their protest is a 93-room hotel and parking structure proposed to be located on one of the wharves.
Developer David Bateman says one of his prime goals is to improve traffic and access around the project, and he's made adjustments in light of what he has been hearing from project neighbors. He says that in contrast to putting up an office building, the hotel would produce less traffic, while creating revenues needed for the wharf's upkeep.
"I think it's probably the fault of both our parties not reaching out to each other sooner than this,” Bateman says. “But, as they say, it's never too late, and we share too much in common to not to have a dialogue, at least, and jointly attack the problems that are real problems."
Hotels are a conditional use in the waterfront zone, requiring review by the city's planning board and a vote by the city council. Bateman says he plans to complete work on an economic impact study before submitting revised plans to the city.
Originally published Nov. 21, 2018 at 3:36 p.m. ET.