GPBR Legislative Updates 

September 2025 Local Policy Tracking   

With summer behind us, Maine communities are shifting focus to November elections. Many towns have scheduled candidate nights to help residents learn more about those running for council and select board seats. Local elections are one of the most direct ways for you to make your voice heard and shape future policies.

Moratoriums in Place

• Portland: Temporary pause on development of a proposed concert venue.
• Yarmouth: A 180-day moratorium on new development.
• See the full map of affected areas HERE.

Major News Out of Portland

The Greater Portland Board of REALTORS® has released a new study showing how rent control is shifting Portland’s property tax burden by as much as $10 million, with single-family homeowners left to pick up the tab.

Read the full study HERE.

Windham Pushback

The Windham Town Council is voicing opposition to LD 1829 – An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families. This bill would limit local control over housing development decisions.

Read the full bill: LD 1829 HERE.

Cape Elizabeth

• Planning Board voted 5-0 in favor of approving the Site Plan Review of a 35-unit apartment building and a 1-story parking garage located at 300 Town Common, covered here 
• ​​Two environmental initiatives more forward:
• The solar array contract was approved by the town council
• Cape has committed to getting to net zero with its buildings on the same track as the state after years of workshops and meetings between GPCOG 
• Planning Board approves Site Plan Review for Fort Williams Master Site Plan, covered here 
• Council Candidates as follows: Four candidates are running for two seats on the Town Council, including incumbents Penny Jordan and Caitlin Harriman. Former Town Councilor Timothy Reiniger will attempt to return to the council, and newcomer Cynthia Troiano will join the race.
• New Tax Rate set: The new tax rate established is $11.73 per $1,000 of property value for the 2026 fiscal year.
• Cape’s Latest Newsletter here.
• Town Council and Planning Board agendas. 
• Meeting calendar here.

Cumberland

• Cumberland Election Information here.
• Current Construction Project info here.
• Housing Task Force Committee here
• Town Council agendas. 
• Planning Board agendas.

Falmouth 

• Falmouth workforce housing project gets final green light - The development will bring 48 two-bedroom units to Marshall Drive covered by the PPH here 
• Falmouth Election Information here.
• Latest Falmouth Newsletter here 
• Calendar and agendas here

Freeport

• Freeport Election Information here 
• Candidates Forum October 6th
• Housing Task Force Committee here
• Calendar and agendas here 

Gorham 



• Who’s in and who’s out for upcoming Gorham election, covered here by the PPH
• Gorham planners give thumbs up to condo master plan - The 40-acre site is in the Narragansett Game Sanctuary, covered here by the PPH 
• Gorham Council Appoints Affordable Housing Committee - seven members to the new Affordable Housing Committee, covered here by the Gorham Times 
• September Town Council, covered here by The Gorham Times
• Six candidates are running for three 3-year terms on the Town Council in the Nov. 4 election. They are Kelly Dearborn, Philip Gagnon, Charles Hamblen, Timothy O’Leary, Sam Puiton, and Seven Siegel, covered here by the Gorham Times
• Gorham Election Information here 
• Town Council agenda

Gray

• Town Council and Town Manager to Discuss Goals at September 16 Retreat
• Council meeting schedule here

New Gloucester 

• Council meeting schedule here

North Yarmouth 

• North Yarmouth Election Information here 
• 10/22/2025 Candidates Night 6:30PM at the Community Center
• Comprehensive Plan Proposed changes to Land Use here. 
• Meeting and agenda here.

Portland 

• Moratorium begins for new Live Nation concert venue, A 180-day moratorium for the development of a new Live Nation concert venue in Portland, covered here by WGME
• Portland’s Social Housing Task Force holds inaugural meeting, covered here by the PPH 
• Tax Bill Payment Dates - All property tax bills were mailed the weel of 9/12 - new mil rate is $11.98 per thousand dollars of assessed value, a decrease of more than 25% from the projected FY26 mil rate prior to any revaluation. 
• Portland Property Tax Study Commissioned by GPBR here
• Portland sets allowable rent control increase at 2.2%
• Portland’s Housing & Safety Office aggressively auditing landlords
• What is 'banked rent', covered here by WGMW
• Funding for Housing Related Programs Available Through Healthy Neighborhoods Partnership - Portland, in partnership with Maine Medical Center (MMC), is seeking applications from parties interested in utilizing MMC grant funding for the purposes of developing or continuing housing-related programs, Application packets will be received until Monday, October 27
• Portland’s Commercial Vacancy Tax approved by the Council, covered here by the PPH  
• Meeting schedule here

Pownal 

• Pownal Voting Information here 
• Pownal Annual Town Report here
• Pownal Election Information here 
• Meeting calendar here

Scarborough 

• Scarborough’s Dunstan tax increment financing district is killed by unanimous vote, covered here by the PPH 
• “Slow the Growth” Movement & “Not so Fast Scarborough” 
• Not so Fast Scarborough Facebook here 
• Concerned Taxpayers of Scarborough Facebook here 

• Q&A with Councilor Scott Doherty - Town issues, such as affordable housing, the proposed school project, Dunstan TIF district, more info here
• 2025-26 Tax Rate Set, Tax Bills Mailed, new tax rate is now set at $11.33 per $1,000 of property value for the 2026 fiscal year
• Town Council agendas. 
• Planning Board agendas

South Portland

• First Reading to Allow 7 story building on the corner of Ocean/Hinckley 
• Mahoney Reimagined Building Crawl - 9/30 & 10/4 more info here
• Meet the Candidates, covered here by the PPH
• November Election - Three Council seats open, more info here
• Comprehensive Plan Update here
• Latest Newsletter here
• South Portland City Council and Planning Board agenda

Westbrook

• Morse the lone mayoral candidate on the ballot in Westbrook, covered here by the PPH 
• Westbrook administrator plans to resign - Jerre Bryant will transition from city administrator to interim director of economic and community development, covered here by the PPH
• Westbrook city candidates for the fall election, covered here by the PPH 
• Westbrook Election Information here
• Meeting and events calendar.

Windham

• 1.6 Million Contract awards to Shaw Bros for sewer installation 
• Council sets $12.06 mill rate 
• Windham Town Report Available here
• Council Pushes Back Against Local Control Regarding LD 1829 An Act to Build Housing For Maine Families
• LD 1829 here
• Windham Newsletter here
• Meeting calendar here.

Yarmouth

• The Town Council adopted an Ordinance Establishing a Temporary Moratorium on New Development in the Royal River Sewer Shed with an effective date of September 5, 2025.
• Town Moratorium FAQs here  
• Map of affected areas HERE. 
• $7.5 million bond on our November ballot to replace the station
• Yarmouth pauses development to ease strain on aging sewage treatment, covered here by the PPH
• Yarmouth Public Affairs Facebook 
• Push back from residents on tax increase - Visit FB Group One Yarmouth
• Meeting calendar here

Other State/National

• Economists say Maine's housing shortage is impacting workforce migration to the state, covered here by Maine Public
• Maine advocates discuss lack of affordable housing at conference, covered here by News Center
• Mayoral candidate in Biddeford issues debate challenge, covered here by the PPH
• Angst over Maine’s high property taxes hampers efforts to make them fairer, covered here by the BDN
• Maine home sellers are overpricing their properties, covered here by the BDN
• Sanford enacts 90 day moratorium on mobile home park rent increases, covered here by the PPH 
• Maine Invests $315M in Housing Since 2019, covered here
• Architects & The Housing Crisis, covered here by Maine Public