AUGUSTA - A bill from Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford intended to grow affordable housing options in Maine will receive a public hearing before the Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee today at 10:00. The hearing will be streamed live on the Committee's Youtube channel.
Following the public hearing, Speaker Fecteau will hold a media availability at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the bill and answer questions. Media interested in participating can register here.
The bill, LD 2003 "An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions" is expected to receive support from a wide array of bipartisan stakeholders as a step in the right direction to solving Maine's affordable housing crisis.
LD 2003 would require the state to support municipalities with grants and technical assistance as they revise zoning regulations for the modern day. It would also allow property owners to build accessory dwelling units in any residential zone and allow up to four units on a lot zoned for single-family housing. These efforts are expected to increase the number of affordable units in the state of Maine, empowering Mainers to contribute solutions to the housing crisis in their own backyards.
"The lack of affordable housing has reached a crisis level. Before it impacts our children's futures and their ability to make a life for themselves in Maine, I believe we need to act. We can do that today by simply removing outdated zoning regulations that prevents housing from being built from the outset," said Speaker Fecteau. "So supply meets demand, we need all types of housing-including affordable housing-in every Maine community. We owe this to older Mainers, young families who want to make a life here, and our workforce. This bill incentivizes municipalities that work toward updating their zoning rules so we are all working together proactively to address the housing crunch Maine people are experiencing."
Contact:
Jenna Howard (Fecteau), 214-3185,