The Portland Planning Board is still considering whether to move forward with a plan for a 3,300-seat concert venue after holding a public hearing Tuesday night.
The planning board did not take a vote on the project, which has been opposed by smaller venues who say they’d be forced out of business, and by residents worried about traffic and parking issues.
Concert giant Live Nation and local developer Mile Marker Investments plan to build a concert venue near Merrill Auditorium.
The Portland City Council has been considering a moratorium on large theaters and concert halls in order to study their impact on traffic.
Earlier, Mayor Mark Dion told WGAN the planning board should not be involved in traffic and parking issues with the proposed venue. “Their mission is quite clear,” Dion said. “There are existing zoning ordinances and planning requirements, and their (the Planning Board’s) only purpose is to determine whether the applicant satisfies those standards and expectations, period.”
The planning board will meet again on June 10.
