Portland begins overhauling its development code
File Photo / Kevin Steeves
A Portland Planning Board workshop on rewriting the city's development code will be held at City Hall this Tuesday afternoon.
The city of Portland is rewriting its development code for the first time in over 50 years — and wants the public’s input on how to improve the huge set of land use regulations.
Planners recently began working to create a new, unified document that will increase predictability and clarity in the development review process. The goal is also to make sure the new code supports the goals of the Portland’s updated comprehensive plan, according to a City Hall news release.
The rewrite process, known as ReCode, formally began last month, and the Portland Planning Board will begin discussing it in a workshop Tuesday. The public can also weigh in on the rough draft of the code as it’s developed using an online tool for recording comments, questions and suggested changes.
To date, only a few initial sections of the code have been drafted, but they already total over 120 pages.
Phase 1 of ReCode will focus on reorganizing the existing code into a more understandable and user-friendly document. The city hopes to remove outdated, redundant and confusing language, and to include more tables and graphics, according to the release.
In Phase 2, ReCode will examine the regulations in light of policy goals expressed through Portland’s Plan 2030, which is intended to guide the city’s development over the next 10 years. Potential changes to the land use code may include the creation of impact fees to be paid by new developments, regulations on signage, and updates to current rules about accessory dwelling units and parking.
The Planning Board workshop begins at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Portland City Hall, 389 Congress St.
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This and the “demand” of homeless shelters and an unending supply of homeless with no job prospects is going to kill the city.
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