New committee will oversee development at UNE

By RANDY SEAVER, Editor

As part of his campaign promise to increase government transparency, accountability and citizen participation, newly-elected Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain unveiled his plan to create a new ad-hoc committee that will oversee all development on the University of New England’s Biddeford campus.

LaFountain’s plan was warmly received by both the city council and members of the public during the new city council’s first official meeting on Tuesday.

The new committee will focus on the city’s “Institutional Zone,” which includes all of the University of New England’s Biddeford campus.

According to LaFountain, the Institutional Zone (IZ) regulates university uses and requires that all campus development must strictly follow the outlines of the university’s approved Master Plan, which is updated every five years.

“Over time, the scale of institutional activity has increased and carries significant implications for transportation systems, utilities, public safety, neighborhoods and long-range planning,” LaFountain wrote in a memo to the city council.

According to the mayor, the Institutional Zone and Institutional Master Plan ordinances – first adopted in 2001 — have not been comprehensively reviewed in more than two decades.

Recent projects have highlighted the need for the committee, LaFountain said, pointing to the university’s controversial pier project, plans to develop a fire substation near the campus and a plan to convert a former convalescent home into new dormitories for the university.

LaFountain said the new ad hoc committee will conduct a focused review and return recommendations to the city council.

The mayor said the committee will “meet frequently, solicit public input and present initial recommendations by April 2026; and final recommendations by June 2026.”

Several representatives from the University of New England — including the school’s senior attorney and its vice president of operations — attended Tuesday’s meeting.

Ed Cervone, director of external affairs at UNE, said the university is supportive of the desire to review the Institutional Zone Ordinance.

“UNE hopes that the creation of an Institutional Zone Review Committee can bring additional clarity to, understanding of, and confidence in the ordinance,” Cervone said.

Cervone reminded the council that when the IZ was first created, a similar kind of committee was organized and included a representative from the university. He also suggested that the new committee should include a Hills Beach Association representative; the city planner and Ward One Councilor Patricia Boston because of her historical knowledge about the Institutional Zone.

“UNE is in a highly competitive economic sector and must quickly adapt to meet the demands of the market,” Cervone said. “This includes maintaining and improving its infrastructure to attract and retain students.”

“UNE takes seriously its responsibility as one of the city’s largest employers. We are proud to employ many community members from Biddeford and the surrounding region, offering them good paying jobs with excellent benefits for their families,” he added.

“This is not possible without regulatory clarity, predictability and a responsive partner in the city,” he said.

Resident Mark Robinson described the new committee as a “fantastic idea” and said it will squarely address citizen concerns that have been intensifying over the last few years.

When it comes to deciding who should serve on the new committee, Robinson said he had full faith and confidence in the mayor and the council’s ability to appoint members to serve on the committee.

Former city councilor Richard Rhames said creating the new committee is “more than appropriate” and “arguably long overdue.”

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com

c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved

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