Welcome to the District Five Insider, a newsletter about the big decisions making their way through the City Council, what they mean for District Five, and how you can get involved. Follow to subscribe, and receive this newsletter in your mailbox.

Tuesday November 5, 2024

One Big Win for Portland: ReCode Unanimously Passes

In last night’s Portland City Council meeting, we reached a monumental milestone with the unanimous passing of ReCode, Portland’s comprehensive zoning overhaul. This is a big win for our community, marking a significant step forward in creating a Portland that balances growth with the needs of all residents.

Two essential amendments were introduced to ensure ReCode respects Portland’s historic, cultural, and Indigenous heritage through a more inclusive lens. The first amendment broadens preservation standards to recognize and protect sites with Indigenous and historically marginalized significance, integrating an anti-racist approach that shifts focus beyond merely architectural aesthetics, ensuring that new developments consider and honor Portland’s diverse histories. A second amendment introduced a Certificate of Economic Hardship, aimed at supporting property owners—particularly those in historically significant yet economically vulnerable areas—by offering a pathway to preservation without imposing unsustainable financial burdens. This approach ensures our growth is both culturally respectful and equitable​​​.

Two More Quick Hits:

Prioritizing Working-Class Neighborhoods

In a major stand for Riverton, I advocated to hold back on extensive upzoning that could risk the affordability of housing in this naturally affordable, working-class neighborhood. Riverton provides critical housing options for middle- and working-class families—homes that, while priced between $300,000 and $500,000, remain more accessible than market-rate rentals or condos. Protecting Riverton from unrestricted development without affordability safeguards helps shield residents from potential displacement and gentrification​​.

While maintaining protections for Riverton, we passed an amendment to streamline the permitting process within Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zones, placing greater emphasis on areas well-supported by infrastructure like sidewalks and public transportation. This strategic focus aligns with Portland’s goals of directing growth to areas where it will be most efficient and sustainable.

Hotel Moratorium Passed Alongside ReCode

To complement ReCode’s focus on housing, we also passed a 180-day hotel moratorium to redirect resources and land toward residential development. Since 2019, hotel projects have created hundreds of jobs that often pay wages insufficient for workers to afford housing here in Portland. Our current policies have fallen short in ensuring that these projects contribute adequately to affordable housing. This moratorium will allow us the time needed to review and strengthen our inclusionary zoning requirements for hotels, so we can better meet the housing needs of our community.

Your Vote Matters Today!

Today is a crucial day for Portland’s future. I endorse Jess Falero and Grayson Lookner for the At-Large City Council seat. Additionally, I encourage a NO vote on Question A to protect workers’ pay and a YES vote on Question B to establish stricter regulations on short-term rentals to protect Portland’s housing stock and keep our city affordable.

Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. For details on polling locations, visit the Portland City Clerk’s website.

Thank you for being an engaged part of our city’s progress! Together, we’re building a Portland that values its history, protects working-class communities, and embraces sustainable growth.

ksykes@portlandmaine.gov 207-558-5764

Notice: Under Maine law, documents – including e-mails and text messages – in the possession of public officials or city employees about government business may be classified as public records. There are very few exceptions. As a result, please be advised that what is written in a text message or e-mail could be released to the public and/or the media if requested.