South Portland Planning Board backs wider building coverage in light industrial zone

The South Portland Planning Board voted 5-0 on September 23, 2026 to recommend a zoning text amendment that would raise the building coverage allowance in the light industrial district from 30 percent to 40 percent, a change sought by Elvet Sciences for an ethanol storage building at 200 John Roberts Road. The board also approved its consent calendar, including modernized site plan application forms, and agreed to move its November meeting from the 25th to the 18th.

Key points

• The board voted 5-0 to recommend Ordinance 7-26-27, expanding light industrial building coverage from 30 to 40 percent, sending it to the City Council for two public hearings and reads.
• Community Planner Maren Stevens said the applicant's building is already at 31 percent coverage, above the current limit, and that 2 of 38 developed light industrial parcels are nonconforming while seven more sit at or above 25 percent.
• Board member McDonald asked whether South Portland should seek a higher number than 40 percent, and staff said the comprehensive plan process will revisit the district's future, with the area expected to shift toward mixed use.
• The board approved the consent calendar 5-0, covering a minor amendment for Cobblestone Coffee at 200 Gorham Road, tree modifications for Landry Circle Senior Housing 2, and updates to planning regulation number four, including a new site plan checklist and project data sheet.
• No members of the public spoke during the public hearing on the zoning amendment or during public comment on items not on the agenda.
• Planning Director Dawson Nevilles previewed AI-assisted application intake and plan review tools modeled on Turbo Tax, aimed at a December rollout, and McDonald raised a fire code conflict that sets South Portland's high-rise threshold at 50 feet versus the national 75 feet.

Next steps

• The zoning text amendment recommendation goes to the City Council, which will hold a first read and second read before any ordinance takes effect after a 20-day appeal period.
• The board agreed to cancel its November 25 meeting and meet November 18 instead; staff will update board members' meeting invites and provide a current calendar.
• Staff will confirm quorum for the October 14 meeting, which has two council-directed items, and asked members to hold October 28 as a possible second meeting.
• Nevilles will report back on the comprehensive plan implementation schedule after the committee meets the following Wednesday, with the first ordinance package expected around spring 2027.
• Nevilles said he would meet with the fire department about the high-rise threshold in Chapter 8 and explore whether that change could be pulled out and scheduled with the council sooner.

Read the full transcript