Barbara Vestal Facilitated the Meeting. She Is Opposed to the Zoning Change the Developers Seek, A Change, That If Not Made, Would Place the Development in Jeopardy.
City Senior Planner Christine Grimando, Planning Division Director Alex Jaegerman, and Jeff Levine, Director of Planning and Urban Development.
Anne Rand, Dressed for the Frigid Weather, Opposes the Zoning Change to B-6.
About 70 at the Meeting at East End Community School that Lasted Two Hours This Evening.
By Carol McCracken (Post # 2,276)
“We are not trying to stop development on the waterfront, because change is inevitable. We want it to fit with Portland,” said Barbara Vestal, who facilitated an informational meeting this evening on the proposed zoning change for the almost 10 acres of waterfront property that is currently before the city’s planning office. The applicant, CPB2, is seeking a zone change to B-6 that will accommodate a mixed used development on the portion of the land currently not zoned for that. The current zoning is much more restrictive than the requested change – a change that would comply with the Comprehensive Plan and was the original intent of the City. The zoning change application is expected to go before the planning board sometime in February. The property is the former site of Portland Yacht Services that relocated most of its operation to the New Yard as of December 31, 2014 because of its sale to the development team almost two years ago for $10 M by Phineas Sprague, Jr.
Vestal, an attorney and former planning board member, leads a loosely formed group – “Keep the Soul of Portland in the Portland Company: Support Thoughtful Development.” The group is comprised of neighbors, members of the historic preservation community. members of the Concerned Citizens who sought, unsuccessfully, to abort the construction of the replacement auditorium for the St. Lawrence Arts Center as well as some who tried, unsuccessfully, to block the arrival of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum on this same waterfront property in the 90s. (Just ask any child who has ridden on the Polar Express if that approval was a good decision.) Please visit www.soulofportland.org for more information.
Height of the buildings and its effect on the Hill is the number one issue for those who live in the immediate area. During a presentation by the City’s senior planner Christine Grimando, it was emphasized that building heights along Fore Street will not exceed 35 ft., thereby not blocking views above that height. Levine referred some questions to the Planning Board saying this was not the appropriate forum for such discussion. Their questions could be answered by the Planning Board as well as made part of the record. That prompted John Golden to yell: “That’s what we are all here for!”
Potential massing of the buildings that could go into a B-6 zone are of concern to some as well. Playing to that fear was a massing design presentation by Hill resident Rob Whitten, Whitten Architects, commissioned by the Soul of Portland and Greater Portland Landmarks. It was a dizzying ride on steriods through a maze of big blocks that was conceptual and in no way represented the reality of the developers’ proposal. Asked if this presentation was intended to scare people, Whitten responded simply: “No!”
Although numerous members of the preservation community attended the meeting at the East End Community School, preservation mostly took a back seat to the discussion. An exception was Anne Rand, former State representative from the Hill, who asked the panel if it was common to delay the historic preservation consideration until after the zoning change was resolved. Rand was told yes by Levine. Michael Mertaugh, west end resident and an opponent of the sale of Congress Square to the Westin,who was an economist for the World Bank for many years, asked if the planning office is thinking of the Franklin Street redevelopment plan in its deliberations? Yes it is. Ned Chester, whose home overlooks the 58 Fore Street property said: “Does the city want another Boca Raton? Chester and Vestal are married and were outspoken critics of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum back in the 90s.
“We’re eager to meet with any one interested in this project and delighted to share our vision and concepts for the property. Our guiding principles have always included a commitment to the Eastern Waterfront Master Plan that was adopted by the City in 2004 – after an extensive process of public engagement. That plan is devoted to enhancing public benefits including preservation of harbor views, public access, public spaces, marine uses, adoptive re-use of historic buildings and a trail along the water’s edge. These are just some of the elements we envision and, as we continue to meet with people, we are getting great feedback and input on what we hope will be a vibrant and economically viable landmark destination for the whole city,” wrote Jim Brady, Manager of CPB2, in an email to mhn.com.. “For those who’d like to set up a time to meet with us, please contact our team at the following email address: info@cpb2.com. Please see www.cpb2.com for our development principles. The site will be expanded in the coming days with more information for those interested,” the email concluded. The development team was not invited to participate in the meeting hosted by the Soul of Portland this evening.
Ted Dey a resident of the Eastern Promenade said at the close of the meeting that he believed this had been a “constructive, open and transparent” meeting. “It was a good start,” he said.