{"id":2485179,"date":"2026-07-02T16:50:42","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T16:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2485179"},"modified":"2026-07-02T16:50:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T16:50:42","slug":"portland-to-consider-removing-zoning-rule-that-limits-entertainment-licenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/portland-to-consider-removing-zoning-rule-that-limits-entertainment-licenses\/","title":{"rendered":"Portland to consider removing zoning rule that limits entertainment licenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The relaunched Cocktail Mary opened in May in the top floor of Oun Lido’s on Market Street. (Courtesy of Cocktail Mary)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Earlier this year, Cocktail Mary owner Isaac MacDougal decided to move his business<\/a> to Market Street in the Old Port. It was a larger space, and had been built out perfectly for a bar and nightclub. <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until after MacDougal had signed the lease that he became aware of a decades-old rule that limits the number of businesses that can hold entertainment licenses downtown. At 30 Market St., he\u2019s too close to Lincoln\u2019s, at 36 Market St.<\/p>\n

The 100-foot buffer \u2014 or \u201cbusiness dispersal requirement\u201d \u2014 dates back to the 1990s, and was retained with the creation of a downtown entertainment overlay zone in 2007. According to staff, it was intended to \u201cprevent the overconcentration of nightlife establishments\u201d in the Old Port, and concerns related to the noise (and maybe a few fights) that came with bars letting out after last call. <\/p>\n

MacDougal and other business owners said this week that the rule is outdated, and has hindered attempts to attract customers through events and bring more foot traffic downtown.<\/p>\n

During a housing and economic development committee meeting Tuesday, MacDougal said that while the city is actively working to fill vacant commercial space downtown, the buffer is working against it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ordinance keeps usable space dark for zero benefit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

After hearing from several others who said the rule has stymied efforts that could improve conditions downtown, the committee forwarded a proposal to remove the buffer to the Planning Board.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty years is a good amount of time to reassess the landscape of Portland,\u201d said Arcadia owner Dave Aceto, who is also working to open the bar Bad Neighbors<\/a> across Congress Street.<\/p>\n

Aceto said many downtown businesses are putting a lot of effort into revitalizing areas of the downtown that are \u201clackluster,\u201d and that the city should be removing \u201cbarriers that were put up at a different time, for a different reason.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

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Isaac MacDougal pictured at the former location of Cocktail Mary in January 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Councilor Wes Pelletier brought the proposal to the committee in November at the same time that he proposed a 750-foot buffer between large entertainment venues<\/a> related to the controversial Portland Music Hall project. However, the committee declined to take it up at the time, wanting to separate the issues.<\/p>\n

Some questioned this week whether the removal of the 100-foot entertainment buffer could impact pending litigation<\/a> involving the developers of the proposed 3,300-seat venue that was shot down by the council. <\/p>\n

Portland resident George Rheault said while he\u2019s in favor of the buffer being removed, he believes it could be used against the city as it faces a lawsuit over the venue. He said while the 750-foot buffer was put in place because of concerns over the impact of having large venues too close together, striking down the 100-foot rule would appear to be arguing the opposite. <\/p>\n

Pelletier said his thinking with the 750-foot buffer was to prevent a large amount of traffic to be concentrated in one space, while removing the 100-foot buffer could \u201cspread out the impact\u201d by freeing up more area where entertainment can occur. <\/p>\n

\u201cI want to create as many opportunities for the arts as possible, and create less red tape for businesses so they can bring artists in,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Councilor Sarah Michniewicz agreed that there\u2019s merit to the idea that removing the buffer could encourage more nightlife, but she pressed officials to \u201cdo our homework about it.\u201d She said the police department doesn\u2019t have as many officers in the Old Port that it did 20 years ago, and handling complaints could be more difficult. <\/p>\n