PORTLAND — The Portland City Council is set to address a key change to city ordinances that could block a proposed new music venue in the city’s downtown area, despite a lack of support from the city’s planning board.
The council is expected to vote Monday on an order to amend city building codes to, among other changes, create a minimum 750-foot buffer zone “between large theaters or performance halls.”
Live Nation New England has proposed a 3,300-seat music venue next to Merrill Auditorium. The proposal has sparked backlash from local musicians claiming the new venue would have an adverse affect on the local independent music scene. Other critics said the venue would contribute to traffic problems in the city on concert nights.
The project’s organizers have countered that the proposal complied with existing building codes, and therefore should not be denied.
The council acted in August 2025 to set up a moratorium on projects like the Live Nation proposal to examine the existing city ordinances. The council is also expected to end the moratorium Monday night.
The Portland Planning Board has already weighed in on the proposed code changes, voting 5-0 on March 24 to not support the changes.
According to city records, the board determined that the proposed changes “are not consistent with the City of Portland’s Comprehensive Plan.”
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