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Council extends moratorium on new hotel projects while planning board considers zoning changes
Summary
The City Council extended a 180-day moratorium on new hotel projects to give the planning board time to propose revisions to the hotel inclusionary zoning rules. Supporters said the extension allows crafting better affordable-housing requirements for hotel developments; opponents called the move political and said it delays housing.
The Portland City Council voted to extend a 180-day moratorium on new hotel projects, citing concerns that the city’s current hotel inclusionary-zoning rules do not adequately address affordability for hotel workers and that the planning board needs more time to make recommended changes.
Councilor Ali, sponsor of the extension, said the moratorium — originally enacted the previous November and set to expire June 2 — would lapse before the planning board could finalize recommendations, so the council extended the halt on new hotel approvals for another 180 days to cover the planning-board review period.
Councilor Sykes said committee work on the issue is progressing and that the extension gives staff and the planning board time to propose and consider changes.
During public comment George Roe of West Bayside urged the council not to extend the moratorium, saying it was unnecessary and “pure politics” that would not materially address the city’s housing crisis. Roe argued that historic hotel buildings have been converted to housing and said the moratorium would not move the needle on systemic housing shortages.
Councilors voted to approve the extension by roll call.
Why it matters: The moratorium halts new hotel project approvals while the city evaluates whether zoning should require additional affordable-housing protections for hotel developments or workers.
What the meeting did and did not decide: The council extended the moratorium; it did not adopt new inclusionary-zoning rules. The planning board will review proposed changes and return recommendations to the council.
