Portland Eyes Temporary Ban On Waterfront Development After Fishermen Raise Concerns

Portland city leaders are considering a 180-day moratorium on non-marine development along a key stretch of the waterfront after local fishermen began rallying support for a more permanent ban. A group led by local fishermen says non-marine development on and around the city’s piers has squeezed out the working waterfront, limiting space and obstructing business for uses like commercial fishing. [Subscribe to our free morning newsletter and get the latest headlines in your inbox] The group began collecting signatures last month in support of a referendum that would seek to reinstate a requirement that all new projects in the waterfront zone be water-dependent, a rule that would effectively block hotels, restaurants and offices, the likes of which have proliferated in the area in recent decades. On Tuesday afternoon, city officials announced they will propose a temporary ban on new non-marine development in the Central Waterfront Zoning District in an effort to buy time to work with the fishermen’s group to find solutions to their problems. Waterfront restaurant owner Steve DiMillo and wharf owner Charlie Poole said in statements released by the city that a water-dependent requirement could undermine their ability to raise revenues for necessary pier maintenance. “The city of Portland fully supports, and will always support, the working waterfront,” said City Manager Jon Jennings in a statement. “I appreciate the willingness of the fishing community and the pier owners to work with us to address the core issues to ensure the working waterfront exists for all future generations,” he continued.