Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1544942
V O L . X X X I I N O. X I I § 2 J U N E 1 , 2 0 2 6 14 Municipalities had argued that many of the provisions in the most recent bill, designed to increase housing by boost- ing density, i.e., more housing units per lot, went too far, pre-empting local ordi- nances and growth caps, with no fiscal support for added infrastructure costs. Scarborough, which is one of the fastest growing towns in the state, was particularly vocal in its opposition to LD 1829, which had been due to take effect this coming July, and provided feedback to Legislators. LD 2173, "An Act to Update the Laws Regarding Housing Develop- ments and Accessory Dwelling Units," strikes more of a balance between encouraging housing construction and some of the more aggressive man- dates under LD 1829. For homeowners and small-scale developers, some of the changes could help reduce barriers to smaller projects. e new bill also allows for more time for implementation, moving the deadline out to July 2027. "e Town Council was unified in believing that, while it was rooted in good intentions, the original state legis- lation was a blunt instrument that would have undercut many of our thoughtful local regulatory efforts and could have resulted in negative unforeseen conse- quences," Scarborough Town Council Chair Cory Fellows tells Mainebiz. "To their credit, state legislators listened and made meaningful revisions." Modular construction takes a hit Of the bills that did not pass, LD 2229 is one of the more impactful. It was designed to address a recently- discovered technicality in alignment with Maine's building code, regard- ing inspection practices for larger fac- tory-built modular units. Specifically, the state building code requires plumbing and electri- cal systems to be installed by Maine- licensed tradespeople, whereas the wide- spread practice has been for them to be inspected but not installed by license holders, as is the practice in other states. State Sen. Chip Curry, D-Belfast, sponsored LD 2229 to clarify the issue, but the bill was reviewed late in the session, and representatives from the modular industry, unaware of the bill, did not provide testimony. BIBBY & HAROLD ALFOND DINING COMMONS, KENTS HILL SCHOOL We meet every project with a passion for quality, creativity and an emphasis on sustainability. WARRENCONSTRUCTIONGROUP.COM 207.865.3522 woodhullmaine.com Recognized by Maine Preservation and MEREDA GEHRING HOUSE BETHEL, MAINE » CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Greg Payne, senior advisor on housing policy for the Governor's Office for Policy Innovation and the Future F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY The Town Council was unified in believing that, while it was rooted in good intentions, the original state legislation was a blunt instrument that would have undercut many of our thoughtful local regulatory efforts. — Cory Fellows Scarborough Town Council