Boothbay Leads the Way in Responding to the State's Take-over of Municipal Home Rule Authority

Remaining local voting power is a tool of resistance against advancing totalitarianism

Gavin Allanwood Unsplash

The Boothbay Region of Maine has been chosen by forces of circumstance to lead the public response to a legislative enactment that takes away a significant portion of Maine municipal authority over matters local and municipal in character by deregulating housing density statewide, and prohibiting ordinances from saying anything about community character.

In May, there will be a vote on whether to extend the TIF zone for a 36-acre overcrowded affordable housing zone, HP 1489 suggests 2.5 density but removes all restrictions on density, allowing the recently formed Boothbay Regional Development Corporation to plan at 3.5 the density of the surrounding areas.

LD 2003, has opened up potential for changes in housing limits and metrics, Cooperrider said. “This plan shows 3.5% density bonus for affordable housing, so three and a half times what’s allowed currently. source (emphasis by author)

The population growth in Boothbay decreased from 2010 to 2021 source but in May…