After years of very limited development of new market rate housing in Portland, development volume is up significantly, providing new housing developments in the single family, condominium and apartment markets. Portland recently revised its R-6 zoning that applies on the peninsula to encourage more housing development, greater density and infill development. These market forces and revised zoning rules have produced more development, and much of that new development is located in Portland’s Munjoy Hill neighborhood. Despite the stated desire of the City of Portland for more housing development, the increased development has its critics, especially on Munjoy Hill. In response to criticism about the impact of development on the Munjoy Hill neighborhood, the City of Portland in December 2017 approved a 6 month moratorium on demolitions in the Munjoy Hill area and a 65 day moratorium on new site plan applications. Since then, the City has proposed an “Interim Planning Overlay District” or “IPOD” that would provide for interim zoning rules for new developments on Munjoy to apply from the end of the 65 day site plan moratorium to the end of the 6 month demolition moratorium. Before the end of the interim period, new more permanent zoning rules would be put in place.
MEREDA has assembled a panel of experts including the Director of the Planning and Urban Development Department of the City of Portland, an architect with substantial experience in Portland Development and a developer with substantial experience in Portland development and zoning to engage in a moderated discussion about the moratorium, the Interim Zoning Overlay District and the possible longer term changes to Portland’s zoning in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood with plenty of opportunity for questions from those in attendance. This is your opportunity to participate in the discussion guiding Portland’s housing development – what is needed, where are we going and what impacts does and should development have on existing neighborhoods. It promises to be a very timely and topical discussion.
Make plans now to join MEREDA on February 7th at the Clarion Hotel in Portland from 7:30 – 9:30 AM
