Portland citizen-led zoning initiative defeated
Portland voters on Tuesday rejected a citizen-led initiative that would have allowed a zoning change to be blocked if 25% of voters who live or own property within 500 feet of the proposed change objected in writing.
The measure would have allowed developers to override a citizens’ veto, but only with backing from 51% of registered voters within 1,000 feet of a disputed change.
Unofficial election results posted on the City of Portland’s website show the "no” tally at 52.76% compared to 47.24% on the “yes” side. Official results will be posted once they have been verified, according to the city.
Had it passed, the measure would have taken effect retroactively as of May 15, 2017, the date the petition was filed with the Portland city clerk.
The local Question 2 referendum stemmed from a citizens’ petition led by lawyer Mary Davis in response to a housing subdivision planned for the former Camelot Farm next to her property in Portland’s Stroudwater neighborhood.
Davis told Mainebiz in July that the initiative was not “an anti-development referendum,” but a way to ensure that citizens’ concerns are not ignored in the planning process.
Several property developers spoke out against the initiative, citing concerns about giving veto power over projects to so-called neighborhood “abutters.”
Avesta Housing and the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce voiced their objections in a joint announcement prior to the vote, pointing to potential harmful effects on affordable housing developments, hospital expansions and the planned waterfront cold storage warehouse if the measure had gone ahead.
Portland rent cap also defeated
By a far greater margin, Portland voters also defeated a rent stabilization ordinance, with 63.94% voting against Question 1 on the city ballot and 36.06% in favor, according to unofficial results posted online.
That referendum item was prompted by a citizens initiative by Fair Rent Portland to cap rent increases at the rate of inflation. Had it passed, Portland would have been the only community in Maine to have some form of rent control, according to the Portland Press Herald.
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