William Needelman
Voices from the Working Waterfront Oral History Project
Working waterfronts are inherently entwined with the social and cultural aspects of their host communities; they are integral to how community members define themselves and set themselves apart from others. This project captures and preserves oral histories highlighting the importance of working waterfronts to the nation’s fisheries, economy, and coastal communities.
Shelley Chance
Biographical Note:
William “Bill” Needelman is the Waterfront Coordinator for the City of Portland, Maine. He was born in Portland, Maine on April 3, 1964.
Scope and Content Note:
Bill Needelman discusses the context and evolution of waterfront zoning in the City of Portland, Maine. The working waterfront is a defining characteristic of Portland, but the condominium boom of the 1980’s threatened to displace traditional fishing uses. Mr. Needelman discusses the public outcry that lead to a local referendum placing a moratorium on all non-marine development along Portland’s waterfront and the 1992 Waterfront Alliance report that was used to inform the development of waterfront zoning and regulation. Portland’s waterfront zoning law, which provides strong protection for commercial berthing while allowing higher end retail and restaurant uses that help subsidize pier improvements, has become a model for the nation. Mr. Needelman shares the City’s experiences and lessons learned in implementing the new zoning regulations to enable both non-marine uses and traditional marine activity along an urban waterfront.
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The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
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