Quick note about zoning and use

Just a quick note to say that I am currently frustrated and tired of looking through the city of Portland's website to try and figure out what our zoning and use requirements are. Since we will be a private school this is a little more complicated because we actually don't have to follow state rules and such. I am enlisting the help of everyone I can think of and am hoping that some light can be shed on this most confusing of processes. You see in order to find a perfect home for my endeavor, it would be most helpful to know what our city use requirements will be. Zoning is a little easier, but the city has rules about what types of things any particular building can be used for. So we have to match the use with the building, or rather we have to be sure that the building that we find has the right zoning and use assigned to it, or if it doesn't we will have to apply for a conditional use permit. Anyone done this before and have some suggestions?