Portland OK's Smaller Non-Marine Use Zone

Photo by M. Waterman.

Portland’s City Council voted unanimously in late June to support waterfront zoning changes that were recommended by the City’s Waterfront Working Group, and not a weakened version that had been recommended by the Planning Board. Fishermen supported City Councilor Belinda Ray’s proposal to reduce the non-marine use overlay zone on Commercial Street from 150 to 125 feet, saying that without it they would be forced off Portland’s waterfront. Pier owners opposed shrinking the overlay zone saying it would cripple their ability to generate revenue needed to maintain aging piers.