Port Royal council to consider moratorium on large multifamily projects amid state exemption pause

Council members on June 3 asked staff to prepare materials for a possible moratorium on large multifamily development while the state reviews applications for a property-tax exemption program.

A council member told colleagues, “I would ask that if the town would put, on the agenda for next week, and I think we should have some discussions on putting a moratorium on, multifamily buildings in the town of Port Royal until the state has made their decision” (Committee member). The request followed staff comments about a temporary state “pause” on applications tied to a tax-exemption change that staff said has produced uncertainty for municipalities.

Staff reported the state had temporarily paused new applications and that, as of the briefing, 238 properties had submitted exemption requests across the state. Councilmembers said that uncertainty could materially affect local services and budgets. “We’re just really flying blind,” the chair said, urging caution before new approvals are accepted.

Council emphasized the moratorium should be surgical, not a blanket halt on smaller missing-middle housing. The chair and planning staff noted prior moratoria had been used to refine the town’s planning code and suggested the new measure could exempt duplexes and triplexes while restricting very large projects. Planning staff said they would provide an outline of current code allowances by unit count and options for targeted definitions to bring to next week’s meeting.

No formal motion to adopt a moratorium was recorded on the transcript; the request was a direction to staff to prepare options and background material for council discussion and possible action at a subsequent meeting.