December 27: 35-unit low-income housing complex planned for Millinocket 

Penobscot County commissioners approved the use of $2.2 million to build 35 low-income housing units in Millinocket. A local community action agency will build the complex and “buy and refurbish homes for resale to working families to establish a revolving fund for other similar housing projects.”

Read the full article here. 

December 28: Bar Harbor explores impact fees to prioritize housing 

Bar Harbor Town Council is currently exploring the possibility of impact fees on transient accommodations such as hotels and campsites to prioritize affordable housing. The fee structure and planning process is still underway. Bar Harbor Town Manager Kevin Sutherland notes “the use of fees as a tool to catalyze affordable housing hasn’t been done in Maine” before, “so we’d be the first to look at that.” 

Read the full article here.

December 29: These 4 topics will dominate Maine’s political debate in 2023 

A recent Bangor Daily News article outlines their predicted four major issues that will dominate 2023. The topics included are the governor’s budget, Maine’s electricity future, paid family and medical leave and the housing crisis. Short-term rentals are not expected to be this term’s focus; instead, housing “supply may be the biggest focus.” 

Read the full article here.