SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – The City of South Portland Planning Division is hosting a series of engagement events across South Portland as part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) update process. Community members are invited to attend a Comp Plan Open House on Saturday, May 11 from 11:30 AM to 2 PM at the Redbank Community Center and additional events in May and June. See the complete list of events below and visit the Comprehensive Plan website for details.
The Comp Plan provides a shared community vision and policy framework that guides policies and decision-making for the City. Elected officials, staff, committees, boards, citizens, and investors rely on the Comp Plan for guidance when making decisions that shape the City’s development. The Comp Plan update underway will shape South Portland through the year 2040.
Upcoming Comp Plan public engagement events include two Open Houses and Community Conversations in each Council district. During these events, participants are encouraged to share their preferred approaches to key policy issues that will be addressed in the updated Comprehensive Plan. Topics include waterfront planning, housing needs, economic development, public facilities and services, and transportation infrastructure – issues where the community appears to be most divided, or where the community faces a “fork in the road” in terms of potential policy approaches for the future.
Two interactive “design charrette” events in late June will also allow South Portland residents to explore potential development options for the eastern waterfront and Cash Corner areas, previously identified as priorities for further community engagement by City Council. On June 20, a follow-up event to the City’s May 7 Waterfront Resilience Open House will provide an opportunity for residents to explore and give feedback on climate resilience strategies they’d like to see prioritized in the Comprehensive Plan update.
As part of this public engagement effort, the City has launched an online platform where community members can learn about and share their feedback on different policy approaches to issues South Portland will face over the next 10-15 years. The online platform is open through June 30 and can be accessed at: www.southportland2040.com/key-policy-questions
Upcoming Engagement Events
May 11, 11:30 AM-2 PM – Comprehensive Plan Open House #1
Redbank Community Center Gymnasium (95 Macarthur Cir. W)
May 28, 6:30-8 PM – Community Conversation - District 3
Dyer Elementary School Multipurpose Room (52 Alfred St.)
May 29, 6:30-8 PM – Community Conversation - District 1
Small Elementary School Multipurpose Room (87 Thompson St)
May 30, 6:30-8 PM – Community Conversation - District 4
Skillin Elementary School Library (180 Wescott Rd.)
June 3, 6:30-8 PM – Community Conversation - District 5
South Portland Middle School Cafeteria (120 Wescott Rd.)
June 8, 10 AM-12:30 PM – Comprehensive Plan Open House #2
South Portland Community Center Multipurpose Room (21 Nelson Rd.)
June 10, 6:30-8 PM – Community Conversation - District 2
Hamlin Gymnasium (829 Sawyer St.)
June 20, 6-8:30 PM – Climate Resilience Community Workshop
South Portland Middle School Cafeteria (120 Wescott Rd.)
June 24 – 6-8:30 PM – Community Design Charette - Eastern Waterfront
Municipal Services Facility Conference Room (929 Highland Ave.)
June 25, 6-8:30 PM – Community Design Charette - Cash Corner
Cash Corner Fire Station Conference Room (360 Main St.)
To see event details and learn more about South Portland’s Comp Plan update, visit: www.southportland2040.com
About the City of South Portland
The City of South Portland is a vibrant Southern Maine community of nearly 27,000 residents and over 1,500 businesses located on picturesque Casco Bay. www.southportland.gov
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