SOUTH PORTLAND (WGME) -- Several new ordinances have passed in South Portland, highlighted by rent stabilization.
South Portland passed a rent stabilization ordinance Tuesday night that caps landlords with 15 or more units to 10 percent rent increases a year. Some city leaders were worried about rent hikes pricing residents out of their homes.
“It’s possible that we would have a lot of people who are no longer able to afford a home,” South Portland Mayor Kate Lewis said.
A divided city council pointed towards Redbank Village, where many residents reported having massive rent increases last spring.
Although it passed in a 4-3 vote, some councilors don't see rent stabilization as a solution to rent hikes.
“This may help the Redbank renters, and the renters out in District 5 this year, but next year it will go up 10 percent, and the next year it will go up 10 percent, and it’s going to keep going up,” South Portland City Councilor Linda Cohen said.
Supporters say this new ordinance will help prevent the city’s homeless issues from getting worse.
“We’re already seeing an increase in homelessness in region and in the state,” Lewis said. “So, we don’t want to add to that problem.”
Two ordinances that will help build new homeless shelters were also passed Tuesday night.
“If someone approaches the city and wanted to set up a homeless shelter to serve four people, eight people, 50 people or 200 people,” Lewis said. “We now have parameters and guidelines for how those shelters could safely operate within the city.”
These ordinances were passed unanimously by the city council.
Proposed zoning areas for medium-sized shelters, up to 50 people, include Main Street and Mill Creek Shopping Plaza.
“Being zoned within commercial centers that are walkable to critical services, to shopping, to education,” Lewis said.
Since the pandemic, several South Portland hotels have acted as homeless shelters.
The Days Inn and the Comfort Inn are currently still housing them.
Lewis says Tuesday night’s zoning ordinance could help finally shut down those emergency shelters.
“By passing zoning ordinances and other allowances for more permanent, temporary shelters, it gives us a safety net for the people who need that most,” Lewis said.
The deadline right now for hotels like the Days Inn and Comfort Inn to stop acting as emergency shelters is April 30.