SOUTH PORTLAND – A consultant hired by the city of South Portland to interpret how its ordinances apply to a proposal by the NGL Supply Terminal Co. to move its operations to the Rigby Railyard has determined the project is not allowed under the city’s current regulations.

That’s according to a press release issued by City Manager Jim Gailey late last week. In the release Gailey said NGL now has two options. It could appeal the decision to the city’s Zoning Board or apply for a text change to the current zoning.

This issue has been a bone of contention in the city since the first of the year when the South Portland Planning & Development Department first received a site plan application from NGL, which included a request to build six new above-ground storage tanks.

Resident Eben Rose first questioned whether the project would be allowed under the city’s zoning, and City Councilor Brad Fox also weighed in questioning the initial determination by planning and code staff that the project could move forward.

The city hired Woodard & Curran, a Portland engineering firm, to review the proposed project and South Portland’s regulations. According to a memo from Woodard & Curran, which was provided to the city on June 4, it would “very difficult” for NGL to carry out its proposed plans under South Portland’s current propane storage prohibitions.

See the June 11 issue of the Current for more on this story