3 min read

After roughly two years of debate, the city of Biddeford has given the University of New England the green light to move forward with its proposed research pier, as well as a building renovation project.

The city and university have been at loggerheads over development for months, with each side taking legal action against the other, city officials denying requests to begin work and passing a development moratorium, and UNE’s president decrying misinformation surrounding the situation and the erosion of the two sides’ long-standing relationship.

But a late August ruling from the Saco River Corridor Commission effectively removed any possible routes to legally blocking the pier, and soon after, the city dropped its appeal for the state’s highest court to review the matter. Now, both parties appear to be mending ties and moving forward.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted to lift an ongoing moratorium on UNE development to allow for the pier project and the renovation of Decary Hall. A day later, the city’s planning board voted to extend the university’s pier project permit.

In a joint news release Thursday morning, UNE spokesperson Sarah Delage said the actions by the council and planning board are a milestone in the collaborative effort between the city and university. UNE’s goal, she added, is to advance projects that will support education, research, economic vitality and the long-term interests of the Biddeford community.

“We are proud to call Biddeford home and look forward to continuing our investment in this city,” UNE President James Herbert said in a written statement.

The moratorium on other future UNE projects is still in place while the city’s Institutional Zone Review Committee continues its work to review relevant ordinances. Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain on Thursday encouraged residents to stay engaged as the revived committee works toward establishing clearer standards for future development.

The pier is planned to be located at the Arthur P. Girard Marine Science Center on UNE’s Biddeford campus and would provide students and professors with year-round access to research opportunities on the Saco River. The project has drawn some backlash from residents concerned about the pier’s possible impacts, particularly on those who hold moorings in the portion of the river that the university has targeted for the pier.

Any moorings impacted by the pier will be moved by the city at the university’s expense, Thursday’s news release says. The number of moorings that would need to be moved has remained unclear throughout the process: UNE has said only one would be affected, while the city has said it could be anywhere from two to six.

“Biddeford officials have taken residents’ concerns about institutional development along the Saco River seriously, including through the city’s prior court appeal and its recent testimony before the Saco River Corridor Commission,” LaFountain said in the release. “The council’s vote addresses these two previously approved projects, while the moratorium remains in place for future proposals.

“This decision shows that we can address concerns thoughtfully while still supporting projects that enhance learning, research and local opportunity.”

Biddeford and university leaders both said Thursday that the decision to lift the ongoing moratorium to allow the two projects to proceed is also a signal of the city and UNE’s shared commitment to working constructively on important issues.

“As Biddeford grows, careful planning and strong partnerships are essential,” LaFountain said. “UNE plays a meaningful role in Biddeford’s future, and we look forward to continued collaboration that strengthens both the university and our community.”