I. Council Action Requested.
Title
The Town Council has the following recommendations for Maine LD 1829 implementation and legislative refinement.
WHEREAS, The Town of Windham recognizes that Maine faces a significant housing shortage that affects residents, workers, families, and the overall economic vitality of our communities; and
WHEREAS, the Maine Legislature enacted LD 1829 in June of 2025 with the stated intent of building housing for Maine families and attracting workers to Maine businesses by expanding allowable housing density statewide; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Windham has already demonstrated being part of the solution to Maine's housing shortage with progressive zoning practices and acknowledges efforts to remove barriers that increase housing supply and affordability in other Towns and Cities within Maine with restrictive zoning practices; and
WHEREAS, while the Town of Windham acknowledges the State's goals of increasing housing supply, the implementation requirements of LD 1829 present critical challenges that threaten our ability to manage growth responsibly and maintain the quality of life our residents expect; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Windham has been a regional leader in housing production, with a rate of growth averaging 130 housing units per year over the last 10 years and with well over 800 housing units (including 66 affordable units) in the pipeline with estimated completion dates ranging in the next one to three years, yet LD 1829 treats all municipalities the same regardless of their demonstrated commitment to housing production; and
WHEREAS, the mandated density increase under LD 1829 exceeds the capacity of exiting municipal infrastructure to support new growth, including water systems, sewer systems, stormwater management, transportation networks, and schools, requiring capital investments that exceed local budget capacity and will require state financial support; and
WHEREAS, LD 1829 encourages growth outside of growth area...
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