Portland Mayor Mark Dion is speaking out in frustration after the City Council voted this week to place a six month moratorium on a plan for a 3,300 seat concert venue downtown.

There’s widespread concern about the business practices of Live Nation, the concert giant proposing the venue, which Dion says is not the concern of the council.

“For us, it was a recognition that they have satisfied every rule and standard through the planning process,” said Dion. “They spent months working with our technical team as well as the planning board. “They, by right, should have been granted their permit to move forward.”

Dion thinks the concert venue faces an uphill battle, partly because of the resistance to Live Nation’s involvement in the project.

He thinks the council will be swayed by strong opposition to the project from people attending the council meeting, which he finds frustrating.

“I was disappointed, because I think this could have been a great anchor point for downtown Portland and for Congress Street,” Dion said. “And I think it would have infused cash and customers into our hospitality sector, the restaurants and hotels. I think it’s a missed opportunity.”

Some city councilors now want an economic study done on the venue, which Dion believes will set it back even further. He thinks that if the project is sacked, it’ll deter future development in Portland.

Meanwhile, the Portland Planning Board is also delaying its consideration of the planned venue

The Press Herald reports a representative for Live Nation objected to the move, saying the project is ready for review now.

The planning board tabled the application until late March, after the moratorium expires.

Live Nation is partnering on the project with Scarborough developer Mile Marker Investments.