Tensions increase between UNE and Biddeford

The city announced today that it will appeal the dismissal of a legal complaint filed in connection with the university’s controversial research pier. UNE describes the move as “frivolous” and a waste of taxpayer money.

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

Tensions between the city of Biddeford and the University of New England seem to be increasing.

Earlier this year — in an effort to address growing controversy and resident frustration — the Biddeford City Council voted unanimously to impose a temporary, six-month moratorium on future development at the school’s Biddeford campus.

The moratorium was designed to temporarily halt ongoing expansion and construction of a controversial research pier that was already approved by the city’s planning board and other regulatory agencies.

Despite the moratorium, the university still applied for permits to conduct some tree clearing and other preliminary work while they wait to begin actual construction.

**UNE VICE PRESIDENT ALAN THIBEAULT** leads members of the Biddeford Planning Board and the public on an August 20025 site walk near the location of the proposed pier. (*Seaver*)

This week, the city denied those preliminary work permits.

Furthermore, the city council yesterday authorized the city’s attorney to step up the city’s legal complaint and concerns about the pier project.

THE COURT BATTLE CONTINUES

Biddeford city officials formally announced Wednesday that the city will appeal a York County Superior Court justice’s decision last month to dismiss a complaint filed by the city against the Saco River Corridor Commission (SRCC).

Late last year, the newly elected city council voted unanimously to file the lawsuit, which challenges whether the SRCC failed to consider a so-called 250-foot buffer zone that was established 25 years ago during the agency’s more recent review of the University of New England’s controversial research pier proposal.

In March, Justice James F. Martemucci ruled against the city because their case did not have standing due to [legal timing issues].

Today, after learning that the city is planning to appeal the court’s decision, the university released a strongly-worded media statement, describing the city’s appeal as “frivolous, without any merit, and an unfortunate waste of taxpayer dollars.”

Biddeford city attorney Harry Center rejected UNE’s description of the appeal as frivolous and without merit, based on several legal issues including an amendment the city filed to its original complaint.

“The city is filing its appeal in good faith to obtain judicial review of the Saco River Corridor Commission’s permitting process, specifically the SRCC’s failure to consider a 250-foot zone,” Center told the Gazette on Wednesday.

WHAT IS THE ZONE?

The “zone” has become a matter of rigorous debate both in the courts and during the ongoing work of the city’s Institutional Zone Review Committee.

In some documents and discussions, the “zone” is described as a “no-build zone.” In other discussions, the zone is referred to as a “vegetative buffer.”

The city describes the zone along the shoreline as “a critical environmental protection that had been in place since 2001,” when UNE agree to its creation as a compromise for its plan to build two dormitory building that exceeded height limit restrictions on the Biddeford campus.

In a media statement, the city says that on October 20, 2025, the SRCC wrote to the city confirming the existence of that buffer, while leaving open the question of whether the requirement had been considered when the Commission approved the UNE Marine Research Pier in August 2024.

Cherie Dunning, executive director of the SRCC, refused to confirm that her agency sent that letter to the city in October.

“I am not going to comment on any pending litigation,” Dunning told the Gazette.

CITY | “Committed to Transparency”

City Councilor Patricia Boston represents Biddeford’s coastal communities.

“The Saco River and our coastal waters are among Biddeford’s most valued natural resources,” Boston said. “Residents deserve a clear and complete answer as to whether the environmental protections governing this land were properly considered. That is what the court is being asked to provide.”

City officials say the city is “committed to transparency and following established process.”

“Biddeford is committed to open government and a transparent regulatory process,” said Mayor Liam LaFountain. “We believe this question deserves a full review on the merits, and we will continue to pursue that through the appropriate legal channels.”

“The Saco River and our coastal waters
are among Biddeford’s most valued
natural resources.”
— City Councilor Patricia Boston

THE LEGAL TIMELINE

In their press release, the city provided a timeline of events and maintains that they initially requested clarification from the Maine Attorney General’s office. The attorney general serves as legal counsel for the SRCC, and declined to provide a review, according to the city.

The SRCC opposed the petition on procedural grounds, and on March 20, 2026, the Court dismissed the City’s request based on timeliness.

The city of Biddeford then filed it petition for judicial review in York County Superior Court today.

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