AUGUSTA - A bill from Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford that could pave the way for more affordable housing in Maine will be introduced Monday. L.D. 609, "Resolve, To Establish a Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions" would establish a commission to review barriers to producing more affordable housing in Maine.
According to the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, 1 in 5 renters, over 31,000 Maine people, pay more than half their income toward housing costs. Currently, there is no county in Maine where a full-time worker earning the minimum wage can afford a typical two-bedroom apartment. This outlines a statewide problem.
"Maine is facing an affordable housing crisis," said Speaker Fecteau. "This bill is about cutting any red tape standing in the way of building affordable housing here in Maine. In too many municipalities, a web of various zoning and land use ordinances and state laws are preventing sensible affordable housing projects - big and small from coming to fruition."
The bill would be an emergency measure and if passed, take effect immediately.
Speaker Fecteau will outline the intent of the bill Monday. "We've got to act. This issue is urgent for our economy and workforce, not to mention the dignity of our seniors and young families with kids. But the intent is not for this commission to establish mandates for towns concerning zoning and land use. Rather, the commission will be asked to establish model policies with incentives for towns to adopt them on their own".
The bill will be presented in a Public Hearing before the Legislatures Labor and Housing Committee today at 10:00 a.m. and can be live streamed via can be live streamed via Youtube Channel.
Contact:
Jenna Howard (Fecteau), 214-3185