PORTLAND (AP) – The prospect of Maine’s first Hooters restaurant opening in downtown Portland has triggered a proposal for a 10-week moratorium on new formula eateries in the city’s historic Old Port and the nearby Arts District.

Businesses that offer food or beverages with standardized features such as a name, menu, decor or employee uniform would be subject to the moratorium. Its backers say the measure is needed to give city officials time to develop “reasonable controls” to protect the character of the downtown area from the “adverse impacts” of additional formula restaurants.

The Old Port and Arts District already are home to several such eateries, including Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, Margarita’s, Subway, Quiznos, D’Angelo, Cold Stone Creamery and the Portland-based O’Naturals and Coffee By Design.

Atlanta-based Hooters, which has more than 435 restaurants in 46 states and more than a dozen countries, has said it plans to open a restaurant in Maine within the next year.

Michael Harris, who owns a sports bar in Portland, said an agreement on a franchise deal with the restaurant chain is imminent.

While some people say limiting chain eateries would be a good thing, others maintain that city officials are threatening the economic viability of the downtown.

The City Council is expected to take up the proposed moratorium next Monday. If approved, it would be retroactive to Sept. 6 and run through Nov. 19.

More than a dozen municipalities in the country have laws that ban or restrict chain restaurants, motels, retailers and other establishments.

Voters in Ogunquit last year approved a formula restaurant ban by a margin of more than 2-1. York passed a similar ordinance the year before.