GPBR Legislative Updates 

As we enjoy the last few weeks of summer, several towns have been actively engaged in property revaluations. Scarborough is on the brink of unveiling its new rental registration process, stay tuned for updates on that front. Additionally, there are several noteworthy proposed projects in Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, and Freeport. All three address the crucial need for workforce and affordable housing In Greater Portland. 

Absentee ballot requests are now available (link below), with numerous towns and cities holding critical council seats for election. Scarborough and South Portland remain at the forefront of housing development efforts. 

Did you know that September 17th is National Voter Registration Day? GPBR has partnered with National Voter Registration Day 2024. You can swing into the GPBR office on September 17th, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to register to vote! If you can't make it in, you can click the link below in the 2024 elections section to register. Already registered? That's OK, come by and say hi and grab a sticker! You may get a call from a GPBR Board member or LPAC Committee member, as they will be phone banking in an effort to assist members who want to get registered to vote. 

If you’re interested in staying informed and involved, consider joining our monthly Legislative and Political Affairs Committee meetings. Contact GPBR for more details and to get involved!

2024 Elections

• You can now request an Absentee Ballot - Absentee Ballot Request here. 
• Maine residents can register online - Register to vote online here.

Cape Elizabeth

• 33-unit senior housing development proposed in Cape Elizabeth town centerThe development would require zoning amendments and the council voted unanimously to send the matter to the Planning Board for review. Covered by the Press Herald here
• Gull Crest Referendum Read language here.

More studies are needed, date is not yet set- could see it on the November ballot 

22 acres of Gull Crest between the transfer station and the Spurwink River 

• Cape Climate Action Plan here.
• Town Council Report here
• Cape building permits available here
• Cape Elizabeth FloodPlan Management Ordinance here
• Town Council Candidates here.
• Town Manager Finalists Meet & Greet, Thomas Memorial Library, 6:00 p.m. 8/21 Press Release here 
• Town Council and Planning Board agendas. 
• Meeting calendar here.

Cumberland

• New construction rentals in Cumberland are high-quality homes with high-end amenities Covered by the Press Herald here. 45 new rental units in Cumberland that will open for move-ins this fall. Originally developed for sale starting at $2,200 p/mo
• Cumberland looking at three affordable housing projects Covered by the Portland Press Herald here.
• Construction projects here
• Preliminary plans for Cumberland subdivision get green light covered by the Press Herald here Springs Subdivision, a residential, affordable housing development with 72 units total including 36 affordable units. Located at 77 Blackstrap Road. Tax Map R07/Lot 53. Owner: BR Properties-More information here 
• Sketch Plan Review here
• Housing Task Force Committee here
• Town Council agendas. 
• Planning Board agendas.

Falmouth

• Falmouth Town Council unanimously votes in favor of the workforce housing project The Falmouth Town Council voted unanimously to move forward with a new workforce - The project would create 49 townhomes by Marshall Drive in Falmouth. These new homes would be sold for $425,000. According to the developer's proposal - the pre-app sketch is due at the 9.3.27 planning board meeting.
• The Town is interested in public feedback and is currently developing a process for additional public input as the project moves forward. Email the Council here. 
• 2024 Comp Plan Update here.
• Falmouth Vision and Values Final Report here 
• Housing Affordability in Falmouth here
• Current Bids and RFPs Falmouth here
• Calendar and agendas here.

Freeport

• Project Review meeting 8/21 for approval of Preliminary Subdivision plans for an Affordable Housing Development on a portion of
• land with frontage on Varney Road. Both Site Plan Review and Subdivision Review are required. Forty-two dwelling units on
• 9.23 acres are proposed.
• Freeport Climate Action Plan here.
• Freeport Comprehensive Plan Update here.
• Open Seats
• Council 2
• Calendar and agendas here

Gorham

• 84-unit 55+ condo complex being proposed on a piece in South Gorham.
• Gorham has two town council seats up at the upcoming election. 
• Papers must be pulled by September 5th
• Town Council approved a bond of roughly $12 million for School Department CIPS projects to go in front of voters in November.
• Council directed it's ordinance review committee to change their Sprinkler Ordinance -Gorham Sprinkler.png No change on the sprinkler ordinance but the Town Manager is continuing to work on potential changes with the ordinance committee.
• Mobile homes and modular homes are exempt from the sprinkler ordinance.    
• The town council also forwarded to the Ordinance Committee, for review and recommendation, amending the Growth Management Ordinance to allow for exemptions for smaller dwelling units of 1,000 square feet or less in Gorham’s growth areas within 1,000 feet of a public transit route that do not generally promote higher enrollment in the Gorham School Department, and factoring in revenue positive developments when reviewing exceptions
• Phase 1 of the Robie Street housing project awaiting approval is covered here by the Press Herald 
• Town Council agendas.

Gray

• Gray Village Transformation Project website here
• Gray Newsletter here
• Council meeting schedule here.

New Gloucester

• Council meeting schedule here.

North Yarmouth

• North Yarmouth seeking residents’ input for Climate Action Plan covered by the Press Herald here
• Proposed changes to Land Use here. 
• Meeting and agenda here.

Portland

• Most recent 8/20 Meeting Recap is here.
• Portland City Councilors voted unanimously Monday night to approve new regulations on short term rentals. Covered by Maine Public here
• Non-owner-occupied rentals in Portland were previously capped at 400. Under the new rules, the city will reduce the cap to about 285 units, or about 1.5% of Portland's long-term housing stock.
• STR Revised Amendment Language here 
• Munjoy Hill affordable housing voted Monday - Designating 42 Atlantic Street an Affordable Housing Development with 30 units (Passed 7-0 as an emergency) Covered here by the Press Herald 
• Portland approved 1,281 new units of housing last year, the most in well over a decade, according to a recent study drafted by Portland's planning and urban development and housing and economic development departments. Covered by Maine Public here
• Redfern plans to build a seven-story building with 320 apartments for rent, including 80 which will be designated for workforce housing, and would need zoning change on height requirement. Covered by the Press Herald here
• HUD Features Portland Affordable Housing Projects - The August 2024 HUD Guide, "Creating a Public Funding Strategy to Maximize Housing Production", Read it here.
• A combined childcare and affordable housing project has received approval from Portland officials covered by Maine Public here. 
• The project would demolish four existing buildings with 40 units on the lot between Cumberland Avenue, Oxford Street, Boyd Street and Mayo Street.
• The City Council also voted to support a new six-story, 110-unit affordable housing project on East Oxford Street.
• Proposed site of the new Portland train station chosen The future stop for the Amtrak Downeaster would be off St. John Street, across from the Metro headquarters and connecting to Northern Light Mercy Hospital's Fore River Campus. Covered here by the Press Herald.  
• Project would mix housing-first, affordable, and market-rate apartments in Portland’s Bayside
• The 3 adjacent buildings would be built on Cedar, Lancaster, and Oxford streets at the site of the former Oxford Street Shelter. Covered by The Portland Press here
• Random audits taking place re: rent control 
• Portland creates a public dashboard to track housing creation. The public can interact with the dashboard to see housing approved by year, Access Portland’s Housing Dashboard here.
• Portland City Goals here. - Goals include: social housing and STR reform, we will want to pay close attention to this in the coming months.
• A Portland Rent Board Position is open 
• Portland Open Seats
• Portland Council Candidates here 
• District 1
• Todd Morse (Urbanist Coalition Portland) District 1
• District 2
• Catherine Nekoi District 2, REALTOR 
• Nancy English 
• Atiim Boykin
• Wes Pelletier, Democratic Socialist of America 
• At-Large
• Brandon Mazer At-Large
• Grayson Lookner, Democratic Socialist of America At-Large
• Jacob Viola
• Paul Lewis
• Ben Grant
• Jessica Falero
• Meeting schedule here.

Pownal

• Pownal Annual Town Report here
• Meeting calendar here.

Scarborough

• The South Portland Housing Authority has cut the ribbon on a brand new affordable housing community catering to residents over the age of 55. Located on Little Dolphin Drive off Route 1 in Scarborough, Jocelyn Place boasts 60 units and promises to be both affordable, with rents ranging from $1,000 to $1,200 per month, and green, earning a "Passive House" certification for its energy efficiency. Covered here
• Village Commons had a ribbon cutting for 31 new affordable homes in Scarborough 55+ - Covered by MaineBiz here.
• STR-Upcoming Workshops - Next workshop with public comment on 9/11 Town Manager is in the process of drafting a registration process, should be completed next week
• The following Town Meetings will have public comment on the Gorham Connector:
• 9/4 Town Meeting 
• 9/18 Connector Workshop 
• Town Council agendas. 
• Planning Board agendas. 

South Portland

• Yard South developer files for rezoning of South Portland waterfront property The designs are not final, but the controversial height of the buildings was scaled back from a maximum of 18 stories to 13 stories. Covered by the Portland Press here. 
• Opinion: Please, don’t sell South Portland out - Concerned citizens feel they should be allowed to vote on the Yard South project, a development that could change our lives dramatically – for the worse. Covered by the Press Herald here
• South Portland City Council is considering an ordinance which would prohibit housing from being created in a certain noise contour of Portland Jetport. LTE Portland Press Herald here 
• South Portland Comprehensive Plan Committee’s 9/4 meeting on the policy alternatives engagement results
• Current South Portland building projects here.
• South Portland Open Seats
• Council Seats 2
• South Portland Newsletter here
• South Portland City Council and Planning Board agendas.

Westbrook

• In Westbrook, two affordable housing complexes are nearing completion- Two separate Westbrook apartment complexes are in the final stages of construction, and will add 115 total units of affordable housing to the city by this fall  Covered by MaineBiz here
• Meeting and events calendar.

Windham

• The Town of Windham is seeking proposals for the purchase and redevelopment of the former John A. Andrew School site located in the South Windham Village at 55 High Street, Windham, Maine. The desired outcome of this project is a residential property that will function as a catalyst in the revitalization of the South Windham Village.
• Windham Annual Report here 
• Windham’s strategic economic development plan here.
• Windham Building Growth Ordinance here.
• Windham Energy Plan available here 
• Windham Newsletter available here 
• Meeting calendar here.

Yarmouth

• Yarmouth hears proposal to remove Royal River dams Covered by the Press Herald here. 
• Tree Advisory Committee’s tree protection standards can become a typical condition of approval on any project- Link to the Tree Advisory Committee Preferred Trees & Recommended Tree Protection Measures here
• Yarmouth hires a new community-economic developer director, Tori Hill was previously the community development director in Bridgton. Covered here by the Press Herald
• New Yarmouth Comprehensive Plan adopted 6/24 here 
• Railroad Sq. Project requesting 4 story height waiver Railroad Sq here
• Yarmouth Town Council unanimously adopts the Climate Action Plan covered by the Press Herald here.
• Yarmouth Climate Action Plan here
• Yarmouth ADU Guide here
• Yarmouth Affordable Housing Strategy here. Yarmouth housing Collaborative -Town approved $$ for studies out for RFP 4 town owned props
• Neighbors at one of the sites are gathering data as to why an AH development in that location is not feasible.
• Meeting calendar here.

Other Communities

• Still keeping a close eye on:
• OOB - Petition Rent Control for Mobile home Parks 
• See petition here  Covered here 
• Public Meeting 9/3 “Council has two options: either to send this petition to the voters or enact the ordinances as written,” Asanza said. 
• Brunswick/Mid-Coast - Monitoring
• Biddeford - Monitoring the Council for rent control

Other State/National

• Wells overwhelmingly votes to temporarily ban large housing developments - Residents voted by more than a 10-to-1 margin in favor of adopting a 180-day moratorium, which prevents new construction of large projects and limits the expansion of existing developments. Covered here by the Press Herald
• Communities mostly in compliance with new housing law (LD 2003) as deadline passes covered here
• The 2024 Energy Code Features More Flexibility for Builders - ​​The International Code Council (ICC) published the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) on Aug. 14 Covered here by the National Assoc of Home Builders 
• Buildings, Infrastructure and Housing Working Group
• 2024 Draft Climate Strategies & Survey
• The Maine Climate Council Buildings Working Groups 2024 Recommendations mention the 2021 IECC a number of times
• The Climate Council is doing a series of public meetings in September to hear feedback in addition to the online survey.
• MaineHousing – received directives from the federal government late last month to temporarily stop issuing Section 8 housing vouchers. With four months left to go in the year, the agencies already have used up their shares of the federal money set aside for the program. Covered here by the Press Herald
• Biden-⁠Harris Administration Takes New Actions to Lower Housing Costs by Cutting Red Tape to Build More Housing Covered here
• NAR Priority Issues August 2024 here
• NAR Response to National Rent Control, including factsheet and tool kit here 
• In fight for more housing in Maine, one barrier rises above the rest: Us - Covered by the Press Herald here 
• Great Maine Neighborhoods housing Data by GPCOG here
• Greater Portland Landmarks has filed a court brief arguing that Portland City Councilors acted outside their authority in approving the demolition of the former Children's Museum, covered here by Maine Public
• Harris also pressed lawmakers to address the rising cost of rent by approving two bills that have been introduced in Congress but haven’t gained any ground.
• One bill would reduce the incentive for large firms to buy more than 50 single-family rental homes. The legislation would bar those companies “from deducting interest or depreciation on those properties,” according to a summary of the measure.
• The second rental proposal asks Congress to approve a bill that would “crack down on companies that help landlords increase rents in already high-priced markets,” according to a summary. Covered here 
• Maine communities are relying on this tool to bring about economic growth - Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, districts use taxes generated through an increase in property value to invest in local development projects, Covered here
• 5 Democrats are already jockeying to be Maine’s next House speaker, Covered by the BDN here 
• Mills Administration and MaineHousing launch statewide housing data portal here
• The Growing Federal Push For Zoning Reform covered here by Bloomberg