City Releases First Wave of Edits to Land Use Code
The City of Portland released the first wave of edits to the land use code under ReCode Phase II. The City is seeking public feedback on the draft edits. The edits will be published on the Recode Portland website, where members of the public can comment directly.
Public Invited to August ReCode Portland Open Houses on Land Use Code Edits
Learn more about ReCode Phase II, August 16 – 17
The City invites the public to attend open houses on August 16th and 17th to learn about and provide feedback. The ReCode Portland open houses will focus on proposed changes to four core components of the land use code: Definitions, Zones, Uses, and Dimensional Standards. These core components have a direct relationship to housing creation, complete neighborhoods, the health of downtown, protecting the environment, transportation choice, and more.
Open Houses Dates/Times
Wednesday, August 16
1) 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Portland Public Library, Downtown Branch, Rines Auditorium
2) 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Lyseth Elementary School
Thursday, August 17
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Peaks Island Community Center/Portland Public Library, Peaks Island Branch
September Virtual Event
If you are not able to make the above times, a virtual event is planned for mid-September. Details will be shared by the City.
In addition, the Planning Board will hold a workshop at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 17th, in the Kippy Richardson Conference Room 24 of City Hall. The workshop will have a hybrid remote option. Learn more: portlandmaine.gov/agendas.
What is ReCode?
ReCode Portland is a multi-phased process to create an updated and more user-friendly development code. The new code seeks to advance the city’s comprehensive plan, Portland’s Plan 2030, in areas such as housing, the working waterfront, energy, and transportation.
Project Background
- Phase I concluded in November of 2020 with the adoption of new regulations for signs, updates to the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and parking provisions, and an organizational restructuring of the land use code.
- Phase II focused on the heart of the land use code. This phase looks at the basic regulations that govern where and how different uses occur across the city.
- The City released the first major work product of ReCode Phase II, the land use code evaluation, in December 2021. The code evaluation focused how the code could encourage more equitable housing, foster climate change resilience, and support transportation choice. The evaluation will serve as a road map as the City considers amendments to the land use code and zoning map going forward.
- From December through March 2022, the City heard feedback from hundreds of residents on the code evaluation, through Planning Board and Council meetings, two public forums, a survey, email, and direct comments on the evaluation itself. The findings are summarized here.
