Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1225698
5 W W W. M E R E D A .O R G 50 Sewell Street UNE Innovation Center Fore River Medical Office Pavillion C O N TACT : Lisa Beeler, Business Development Director | | C: 207-632-0871 | | O: 207-767-1866 | | 27 Main Street, South Portland, Maine, 04106 Portland Public Library Residence Inn by Marriott Portland Waterfront 280 Fore Street Congratulations MEREDA! We are thankful to have spent the last 35 years helping Maine communities grow with you. a citizen-initiated referendum intended to change the city's waterfront zoning could lawfully be applied retroactively against a project that had already obtained all of its permits and approvals — a er the developer had spent years and hundreds of thousands of dollars acquiring land, designing the project, and complying with the city ap- proval process. Concerned that the ability to retroactively change the zoning ruling (even a er a project had obtained all necessary legal approval) would ultimately deter the investment es- sential to positive growth in Maine, Vogel was spurred to action and volunteered with MEREDA. He and MEREDA's Public Policy Committee began an ultimately-successful six-year effort to limit the use of referenda to retroactively change zoning, and to ensure that development — however challeng- ing — would be predictable and fair for all parties involved. Playing the Long Game Fortunately, recent legislative efforts have been less laborious. "We play a lot more offense now," Vogel observes, "instead of reviewing and reacting, we've been able to actively engage our members and move for- ward with sensible legislation and regulation in Augusta." Before the Maine Legislature comes into session, MEREDA's Public Policy Committee polls members, asking them to identify one real estate or development law they would change or introduce. Member responses are collected and sorted, and the most important ideas evolve into legisla- tive proposals. A more refined and regimented approach to legislative affairs means more time to establish and develop educational oppor- tunities for MEREDA members. MEREDA's Morning Menu series shines an immediate spotlight on of-the-moment economic issues such as "Real Estate and Financing Issues in Maine's Cannabis Marketplace", or recent changes in Maine's laws that now open our state to opportunities to meaning- fully develop solar energy facilities. With their dedication to open, honest, and expert forums of free information flow, MEREDA constantly provides Maine's real estate and development professionals with material critical to the success of the industry. Over the next thirty-five years, the Billboard Artist of the Year will have changed dozens of times, however MEREDA's dedication to best practices of responsible development will not. A new generation will bring a new wave of dedicated volunteers, a bold legislative agenda, and topical confer- ences. Here's to the next thirty-five years of supporting responsible development in Maine. " Responsible development requires foresight and interest beyond immediate or personal profit." — Renee Lewis Bloomfield Capital Former President of MEREDA