📰BIDDEFORD | Council Imposes 180 Day Moratorium on University of New England

January 20, 2026, At this evening’s Biddeford City Council Meeting, councilors voted unanimously in favor to impose a 180 day moratorium on the University of New England “...on all new construction, redevelopment, expansion, conversion or change of use of land or structures within the Institutional (IZ) Zone, and on any such activity, including conversion or change of use, involving *University/College* or *University Uses*, as defined in the City of Biddeford Table of Land Uses, whether permitted or conditional, in any zoning district.

Meeting documents state the purpose of the 180 day moratorium is “to allow review and revision of the land use ordinance as it relates to the Institutional Zone and Institutional/University uses.”

Now that the moratorium has been approved by the council, the newly formed Institutional Zone Review Committee will begin reviewing the subject ordinances and submit recommendations to both the Planning Board and Council to consider and potentially adopt.

Please note: The Institutional Zone Review committee was approved this evening is composed of Ward 1 Councilor Pat Boston (committee chair), At- Large Councilor Marc Lessard, ward 1 residents Mat Haas, Elizabeth Martin, Christina Stone, and UNE President James Herbert.

Why the Moratorium?.. According to City Solicitor Harry Center, “the current rapid expansion of the University of New England within the Institutional Zone and potential expansion of large-scale university use outside the current IZ cannot be adequately reviewed, regulated and potentially approved in a manner consistent with the current Comprehensive Plan, and land use regulations.

Harry goes on to write, “The current development has demonstrated the shortcomings of the current ordinance, and the current ordinance is not adequate to regulate potential university uses outside the boundaries of the current IZ.”

Mayor LaFountain stated, “Institutional and university development will continue to play an important role in Biddeford's future… This temporary moratorium provides the City with the time necessary to complete that examination responsibly and to ensure that future decisions are guided by clear standards, shared expectations, and the long-term interests of the City as a whole.”

Representatives from the university were present at the council meeting; Alan Thibault from the University of New England spoke to the council during the comment period and reiterated the University’s pleasure with the IZ committee, but went on to express frustration with the moratorium. “Our students and faculty are deeply involved in Biddeford Schools and nonprofits… we have leading programs in marine and environmental science… but modernizing our facilities is essential… we do not believe our current building practices are a burden on the city or neighborhood..”

In addition to the University, several of the sisters (nuns) from the St. Joseph Covenant that UNE is in the process of purchasing, spoke in opposition of the moratorium and outlined that approving the moratorium could result “in the delay of the sale of the property” which would negatively impact the sisters finances and overall “health”.

We have reached out to the University of New England for additional comment but have not heard back at time of publication.