Planning board approves three‑lot subdivision at First Lutheran Church, 138 Auburn Street

The Portland Planning Board approved on Jan. 13 a subdivision application (PL0034372025) to split the First Lutheran Church parcel at 138 Auburn Street into three lots, creating two new buildable lots fronting Washington Avenue.

Staff (Eric) told the board the application is a pure lot split within the RN1 zone and does not request any zoning or site‑work amendments. He said the proposed new lots are approximately 7,500 and 8,000 square feet and meet RN1 dimensional standards; a portion of an interior wetland will remain undisturbed. Eric recommended approval under subdivision regulations (Section 14.4).

David St. Clair of St. Clair Associates, representing the applicant, confirmed the two new lots would permit one to four dwelling units each under RN1 zoning and described the split as a way to add housing options in Greater Portland. Ed Daggett, speaking for First Lutheran Church, said the primary purpose of the subdivision is to raise capital so the church can hire a full‑time pastor during a transition: "We needed some extra cash to make sure we could bring in a high quality pastor," he said.

During public comment, George Rowe of West Bayside argued the board and staff have failed to increase zoning capacity in the neighborhood and said the parcel should allow greater density (he referenced RN3, B1/B2, or a transit‑oriented district) instead of enabling the church to sell land. Rowe described the current zoning and development pattern as worsening housing insecurity. Margaret Haskell, a neighbor at 1543 Washington Avenue, asked practical questions: she said she preferred single‑family homes to four‑unit buildings, worried about runoff and tree removal, and expressed concern about additional driveways and pedestrian safety.

Board members asked staff to clarify environmental protections and future review thresholds. Staff said most wetlands are outside the two new lots and that any future building proposals would be subject to city site‑plan standards, low impact development requirements, and that proposals exceeding four units (or those that rely on affordable‑housing exceptions) would typically return to the planning board for review.

A motion to approve the subdivision on the basis of the application materials and the planning board report for the 01/13/2026 hearing passed on a roll‑call vote. As read by staff, voting 'Yes' were Austin Smith, David Silk, Decina, Brandon Meisser, Mike Fox, Kelsey Robertson, and Josie Amoni. The board authorized the chair to sign the approval letter; staff noted a clerical correction would be made to an application/PO number in the draft documents.

Next steps: the lot split approval permits sale of the two new lots; any future development on those lots will be subject to required site plan review and environmental protections.