[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6302787,"mediaKeyId","2476278-fb35dcc6f1333eb6cd8f337b1534c36c","parentId",2476278,"title","Planning Board approves 7‑story, 325‑unit development at 165 Washington Ave; grants two technical waivers","audioSeconds",3652,"startMs",904000,"endMs",4556000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476278-fb35dcc6f1333eb6cd8f337b1534c36c&start=904&end=4556","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476278-fb35dcc6f1333eb6cd8f337b1534c36c/thumbnail_904000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6302787/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Planning-Board-approves-7story-325unit-development-at-165-Washington-Ave-grants-two-technical-waivers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302787-70908621dd1af8ca81460bc8c0d3ce21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004166&Signature=iOM6G7HC32gplsIe9hXkEIji0XtUU6OsYZB12n9PWuUpgSlAqov3uEw-Bs3FgUm8oFVw6SOsrO0H51S~fnnIf4Nt9A5hXkUs3cw3-ArCp9Nly12FjmOBaPo15eTGkXh86G-pTZuJGnb2bsHYKiihNJSDuuvtxRutx7r7770FEMSnjfzBuoZEsqCIWa3RXdPsm2PSDgT~Vpn6gVYXaxKQsbCG1f1MTwefaQwYi0rFoPvQPHnKy2tYtQa0rBV9YKwpLwFc7nvwpc7LxJV1rIKSAODBAI-P~411r-ECgJez9kfaWzwtd9lf0a5Dgm~va27nMjxqpGdfMjYupGuxPFcQFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland Maine ","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Planning Board unanimously approved a major site plan on Feb. 25 for a seven‑story mixed‑use development at 165 Washington Avenue, clearing the way for 325 dwelling units and ground‑floor retail by Redfern Properties.

The Planning Board adopted site‑plan approval, a Traffic Movement Permit and two technical waivers after a public hearing and a presentation by city planning staff and the applicant. The project as presented includes 82 workforce housing units on site, an about 800‑square‑foot retail space on the ground floor, two residential courtyards and a series of pedestrian and streetscape changes along Washington Avenue, city staff said.

The project site, in the city’s B2 (community business) zone and roughly 65,000 square feet, is currently a vacant warehouse and surface parking lot. Redfern representatives told the board the building is an apartment development (not a student‑housing dorm) but that Northeastern‑affiliated graduate students are expected to be among likely residents because of the site’s proximity to transit and the university.

City staff outlined recommended conditions: technical updates for stormwater and site plan items, a public‑transit shelter coordination plan with Greater Portland Metro, and other engineering and design conditions. The applicant proposed three 15‑minute loading spots on Washington Avenue and the relocation of several tree wells to create an uninterrupted pedestrian corridor. The applicant also proposed moving a controlled access gate to the rear service aisle and showed updated renderings and unit plans in response to board requests.

Public commenters raised concerns about parking impacts in the surrounding neighborhood, potential vibration and foundation impacts during construction, and the development’s height and massing. Speakers asked whether the project could anticipate a future separated storm sewer; city staff said extending a separated system would be a substantially larger public works project and was not something the applicant was required to pursue for this permit. Officials said the development will connect to the existing (combined) sewer in Washington Avenue.

Board members posed questions about construction management, trash pickup logistics, rooftop mechanicals and the design of the bicycle storage. Applicant representatives said the project will include interior bike storage sized to meet most of the city’s technical manual requirement (with some exterior spaces), a trash room and chute system, and heat‑pump style HVAC units with limited roof equipment in the lower, uphill portion of the site.

Formal actions taken by the board included two waivers of the city technical manual, site‑plan approval (subject to 11 conditions of approval listed in the staff report), approval of the Traffic Movement Permit and adoption of the draft approval letter. All actions passed unanimously.

\"It is unanimous across the board,\" the chair said after the final roll call.

The board’s approval allows the applicant to proceed to building‑permit review; the board added a mix of pre‑permit and pre‑occupancy conditions that the applicant must satisfy in engineering, stormwater and traffic coordination with Metro before a certificate of occupancy can issue.

Votes at a glance
- Waiver — driveway spacing (technical manual section 1.5.1.c): Approved (unanimous)
- Waiver — two‑way drive aisle width (technical manual section 1.10.7): Approved (unanimous)
- Major site plan (PL‑003143‑2024) for 165 Washington Ave: Approved, subject to 11 conditions (unanimous)
- Traffic Movement Permit (23 M.R.S. §704‑A / City TMP): Approved, subject to conditions (unanimous)
- Planning Board adoption of approval letter: Approved (unanimous)

What the board required next
City staff noted several conditions must be met before building permits are issued (engineering/stormwater updates, final streetscape and TDM details) and several items that must be addressed before a certificate of occupancy is granted. The applicant said it will continue coordination with Metro on locating or funding a transit shelter near the development.

— Reporting by Portland Planning Board meeting transcript

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hybrid Planning Board Meeting 2-25-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Portland Planning Board unanimously approved a major site plan on Feb. 25 for a seven‑story, 325‑unit mixed‑use building at 165 Washington Ave, including 82 workforce housing units and a ground‑floor retail space, clearing the project to proceed to building‑permit review subject to engineering and site‑plan conditions.","taxTitle","Portland, Cumberland County, Maine","taxId",2582,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302777,"Planning Board recommends City Council adopt Institutional Overlay Zone for University of New England campus",2106,7200000,9306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476278-fb35dcc6f1333eb6cd8f337b1534c36c&start=7200&end=9306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476278-fb35dcc6f1333eb6cd8f337b1534c36c/thumbnail_7200000.jpg","/articles/6302777/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Planning-Board-recommends-City-Council-adopt-Institutional-Overlay-Zone-for-University-of-New-England-campus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302777-c1de476ec0beef6bde4a4103bbaff4ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004166&Signature=c8mDAegs3ovFRNBYvpKXn8hSpfHshzvNtu8BQoxyaj0f4otvYnqPBf~iU4zYiXGd3blmsKbkKeEdQ5n9hRKNzy-Lk-dWaggpgKmKxpJG9xhTs8iq4-kYyW8KB9lVZPFBPO~ZiYk5LZaF5wod7FZRtrE5cVOVjgzM12Kz8wpWgDBTDvt4NnXnzugI4hZqWSHf0ESUZwNlwFN~qEcNxXp4Yisu2KblQsmk1MgTpVh~2nrvE6CQ-fWb0z7H7KDfzB54LbENHtIgrnBkzZmPQBpzIq4SicgJ1hCRlYlRVFKPU~BZz3ytWZbGqByWeuNOwrHaS47eAJmGhhaXNlQQAMUcgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Planning Board on Feb. 25 unanimously recommended that the City Council adopt an Institutional Overlay Zone (IOZ) for the University of New England’s Portland campus, advancing an Institutional Development Plan (IDP) and a regulatory framework intended to guide future campus growth.

The Planning Board’s recommendation covers four distinct items: (1) a zoning map amendment that rezones parts of the campus to B2 (community business) and OSP (Open Space Preservation); (2) adoption of the Institutional Development Plan (IDP); (3) adoption of the IOZ boundary map; and (4) adoption of the regulatory framework to be incorporated into the Land Use Code.

University officials and their consultants presented revisions the board requested at prior workshops, including a revised open‑space and maximum‑height map that adds roughly 10 acres of OSP‑zoned land intended to preserve natural resources such as river corridors and wooded areas. The IDP and the regulatory framework include standards and appendices for campus lighting and signage, community engagement procedures and a maximum‑height map that limits building heights in transition zones adjacent to neighborhoods.

Board members asked about the rationale for two areas where the IDP allows up to 85 feet of height — one near Bishop Street and one in the campus interior identified for future student housing (the applicant described a potential 7‑story, suite‑style residence hall with roughly 350 beds). UNE representatives said the taller areas were selected to concentrate future development where existing infrastructure and prior development make expansion feasible and to avoid environmentally sensitive areas; the board asked for, and the applicant provided, clarification on buffers and transition zones to adjacent residential neighborhoods.

No members of the public requested to speak at the hearing; the department recorded one written comment submitted in advance. After deliberation, the Planning Board voted to recommend City Council approval of the map amendment, the IDP, the IOZ boundary and the regulatory framework. The recommendation moves the proposal to the City Council for a first reading and public hearing this spring.

What the IOZ does
If adopted by the City Council, the IOZ will provide a proactive planning document (the IDP) and a regulatory framework to guide UNE’s campus expansion. The overlay sets maximum heights in mapped areas, creates protection for mapped open space, and establishes a process for design review, public engagement and coordination with city infrastructure.

Next steps
The Planning Board’s recommendation is advisory to City Council. The City Council will schedule a first reading and public hearing; staff expect a spring schedule for council consideration. Council adoption would amend the city zoning map and incorporate the regulatory framework into the Land Use Code.

— Reporting by Portland Planning Board meeting transcript

","The Planning Board voted unanimously Feb. 25 to recommend the City Council approve a new Institutional Overlay Zone (IOZ) for UNE’s Portland campus, including an Institutional Development Plan (IDP), regulatory framework and an open‑space/maximum‑height map that limits some development near sensitive areas.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302782,"Planning Board approves 255‑unit development at Thompson’s Point with single access; grants waiver",1929,4951000,6880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476278-fb35dcc6f1333eb6cd8f337b1534c36c&start=4951&end=6880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476278-fb35dcc6f1333eb6cd8f337b1534c36c/thumbnail_4951000.jpg","/articles/6302782/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Planning-Board-approves-255unit-development-at-Thompsons-Point-with-single-access-grants-waiver","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302782-51ebd2c88704ba462a758089a1a89fd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004166&Signature=egPfJHtsntyNHo6Zzfu~v6ihjpNVawcqA4RULdkjZPNLmhoKPPIBWXMqldzbzEcvuYw4hZgzg9N98fVumwEwTNBtbac9P~315qHSuh-7glPUGGnWFsSymdeg-arTljJytHW8q2yYR5QOsNw-OCazmRB-Qfq8XDNa9gMJU1rYNyLVbZxSrNBc8CjoJVpfrqDPWamL0EtMdHhzU8YYJ8auwldJcjVT3TZAXWJoOxgU558OyYBZS1mrl~pzZfgpY70~1HNyuxJYeS8x5aZR9XgfPnpSgmSaV1lEdGM1QbSBvlP1rhfLxRRJsKnLSEMtnG-uzfue8IOTzjnDsBMBPm8vGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Planning Board on Feb. 25 approved a multi‑family development at 125 Thompson’s Point Road, allowing 255 market‑rate rental units and associated structured parking to proceed under the site plan, subdivision and waiver requests the applicant filed.

Forefront Partners and CPI Management LLC presented the proposal, which the board reviewed under the terms of a previously approved Master Development Plan (MDP) that confers pending‑proceeding status. The project is proposed for the Thompson’s Point campus and includes 255 rental units, a covered parking structure with 463 spaces, resident amenities (pools and fitness facilities) and private connections to the public trail, the applicant said.

Because the 2014 MDP previously found a single means of ingress acceptable for the broader development, the applicant requested—and the Planning Board granted—a waiver to the technical manual requirement that more than 100 residential units be served by two access roads. City staff supported the waiver and noted the earlier MDP documentation and a 2014 fire protection memo as precedent for allowing a single access in this location.

City staff and the applicant reported they had met with multiple internal reviewers and third‑party consultants to resolve outstanding technical comments. Staff recommended conditions of approval, including pre‑permit and pre‑occupancy items; the board adopted site plan and subdivision approvals subject to those conditions.

A single written public comment was received in advance of the hearing. Board members asked clarifying questions about trash collection logistics, visual screening of the garage from surrounding streets, and the project’s timeline and economics. Applicant representatives described curb cuts and trash staging, and said resident trash would be handled through interior chute/compactor systems and temporary loading zones for collection trucks.

The board voted unanimously to approve the waiver, site plan and subdivision applications and to adopt the draft approval letter.

Votes at a glance
- Waiver — single access road for >100 units (Technical Manual §3.6.2): Approved (unanimous)
- Major site plan (PL‑003090‑2024) for 125 Thompson’s Point Road: Approved, subject to conditions (unanimous)
- Subdivision review for project lot configuration: Approved, subject to condition (unanimous)
- Planning Board adoption of approval letter: Approved (unanimous)

What happens next
Staff noted the project’s Traffic Movement Permit is under MaineDOT review; final building permits will require submittal of the items listed in the conditions of approval. The applicant said it will proceed with detailed design and coordination with city reviewers.

— Reporting by Portland Planning Board meeting transcript

","The Planning Board approved a 255‑unit, market‑rate apartment project at 125 Thompson’s Point Road, granting a waiver to allow a single access road for the development on the campus set by a 2014 Master Development Plan. The decision includes site plan and subdivision approvals and conditions noted by staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning Board approves 7‑story, 325‑unit development at 165 Washington Ave; grants two technical waivers

Planning Board recommends City Council adopt Institutional Overlay Zone for University of New England campus

Planning Board approves 255‑unit development at Thompson’s Point with single access; grants waiver