Save the Soul of Portland is a group of concerned citizens representing neighborhoods across the city that believes strongly in growth, jobs and economic development. But we also believe in economic development policies that build on Portland’s unique character and strengths, and that move us toward a greener, smarter economy.

That includes protecting distinctive scenic views of the city’s working waterfront.

These panoramic views were recognized as valuable public resources when the City Council, after lengthy debate and public hearings in 2004, approved a building height study for the Eastern Waterfront and the 10-acre Portland Co. complex as part of Portland’s Comprehensive Plan. City planners and councilors were explicit that rezoning the site for development would restrict building heights to below the grade of Fore Street in order to preserve the only public view of Portland Harbor and the working waterfront.

“The panoramic ocean view that you get from the street as you’re coming down off Munjoy Hill is unique,” said City Council Jim Cloutier during the 2004 debate. “I can’t think of any other place that I’ve ever been to where you have such a stunning view as you’re driving along on your way someplace. That view … is preserved in this set of proposals.”

In videos of the meetings available on our website (soulof portland.org), senior planner Bill Needleman explained how the views would be preserved by measuring the maximum building heights from the flood plain and not the slope of Fore Street to prevent a developer from “grabbing a foothold on upper Fore Street, averaging grade and going up higher.”

But now a developer is seeking permission from the city to allow him to do just that – erect a wall of buildings up to 35 feet high adjacent to Fore Street, completely obliterating the stunning views of Portland Harbor for pedestrians, runners, cyclists, auto passengers, residents and tourists alike.

In recommending approval of the developer’s request for a zone change of the Portland Co. site, the Planning Board ignored public input and the city’s previous decision on building heights. The Portland City Council will consider this requested zone change at a June 1 public hearing

The council is doing so even though the developer has not presented a detailed plan to the city or to the public. Why not? Is there something in the plan that it knows the public would object to? Does its plan preserve Portland’s unique character or look more like Miami Beach?

We don’t know. But we do know that approving zone changes at the request of a developer without knowing how the plans will affect the city and its residents is a recurring problem. It’s like walking down a dark alley at midnight. You just don’t know what to expect.

For these reasons, Save the Soul of Portland has reluctantly moved forward with a citywide referendum to change Portland’s rezoning process and “protect distinctive scenic views throughout the city.” Our proposal is a reasonable one. It would make more-detailed plans a requirement of the application for developers seeking a zone change.

It would implement zoning protections to honor the commitment the city made in 2004 to preserve the public’s panoramic view of the working harbor. And it would enact a zoning tool that the council may use to preserve other treasured public views across the city and create a task force to analyze and recommend where that should be done.

Let’s be clear: Save the Soul of Portland is not trying to stop this or any other development project.

It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. We can have great development and great public vistas at the same time.

We believe that creative engineering, imaginative architecture and thinking-outside-the-box development and planning will result in a truly impressive and forward-looking development that will produce great value for Portland, its residents and the developers. We need to leverage our stunning natural beauty and distinctive views of our working waterfront by protecting them for all, rather than by allowing them to be privatized for the benefit of a few.

For more information, go to www.soulofportland.org and follow us @soulportland. Get the facts and learn how you can be a part of our effort to save the soul of Portland.