Historic Preservation Board

Although City Hall is currently closed, the Planning and Urban Development Department continues to process and review applications.

Historic Preservation BOARD REMOTE MEETINGS

Starting April 22nd, the City of Portland Historic Preservation Board will be hosting remote workshop and public hearing meetings which will be accessible to members of the public. For more information, please visit:

http://www.portlandmaine.gov/remotePUD

Please keep in mind that in addition to meeting schedules being disrupted at the moment, some of our processes are necessarily altered during this unusual time.  Thank you for your patience!

All site plan, zoning map./text amendments, conditional use, and historic preservation applications can still be applied for through the CSS (Citizen Self Service Portal).

For any questions, comments or concerns, please contact us by e-mail at planning@portlandmaine.gov

REGULAR MEETINGS

Please note: All regularly scheduled Historic Preservation Board meetings at City Hall have been cancelled. For more information about upcoming Historic Preservation remote meetings please visit: http://www.portlandmaine.gov/remotePUD

  • Meetings typically start at 5:00 p.m.
  • City Hall, Room 209, 2nd Floor
  • Meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month
  • Dates, times and meeting rooms are subject to change.

2020 Meeting Schedule
Legal Ads, Agendas and Back Up Meeting Material are available prior to each meeting.
Abutter Notices are available to view for each item listed on the agenda.
Archived Historic Preservation Preservation Board meeting are available to view here.  

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Please submit public comment, regarding any pending Historic Preservation project, to hp@portlandmaine.gov

All public comments are included in the review and becomes part of the public record.

BOARD MEMBERS

  • Julia Sheridan, Chair
  • Robert O'Brien, Vice Chair
  • Ian Jacob
  • Joy Naifeh
  • Penny Pollard
  • Julia Tate
  • John Turk

ABOUT THE BOARD

Duties

The Historic Preservation Board has jurisdiction to review and approve applications for a certificate of appropriateness for exterior alterations, site improvements, and new construction affecting:

  • Designated landmarks
  • Buildings and sites within historic districts
  • Historic landscape districts

The board also makes recommendations to the Planning Board and City Council concerning amendments to the historic preservation ordinance and the designation of additional landmarks, historic districts, and historic landscape districts.

Eligibility

Members of the board shall have demonstrated interest, knowledge, ability, experience, or expertise in restoration, rehabilitation, or neighborhood conservation or revitalization and shall be residents of the City of Portland.

Background

A walk or drive through any of Portland’s eight historic districts reveals dramatic changes, as more and more of the city’s traditional building stock has been rehabilitated according to historic preservation standards.

In 1990, the city adopted a comprehensive historic preservation ordinance protecting more than 1,500 historically and architecturally significant buildings, landscapes, and sites from demolition and providing review standards to ensure compatible changes.

Today, the impact of this regulatory program is clear: protecting historic resources makes economic sense and stabilizes neighborhoods.