BIDDEFORD — A bill that is making it’s way through the Legislature would make mill redevelopment in Biddeford a little bit easier.

LD 805, sponsored by Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston — which was passed unanimously by the Senate on Tuesday — would help communities like Biddeford, Sanford, Lewiston and others that have vacant or underused mill buildings.  

The bill, “An Act To Streamline the Municipal Review Process When Dividing a Structure into 3 or More Dwelling Units and To Amend the Process for Recording Subdivision Variances” would cut some of the red tape involved in redeveloping former mill buildings into new housing and commercial property.

Currently, mill and other building redevelopment projects that involve dividing a structure into three or more dwelling units are required by the state to go through a subdivision review. In addition, some municipalities, like Biddeford, require those projects to go through a site plan review process. If passed, the state subdivision review would no longer be required when where projects go undergo site plan reviews. Similar development projects in communities without site plan review would still have to go through subdivision review.

Subdivision review “generally applies to the subdivision of land into parcels, said Libby when testifying before the Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee last month. “Subdivision review really does not apply … when (the project) is a self-contained structure.”

Scott Joslin, spokesman for the Pepperell Mill Campus which comprises more than 1 million square feet in Biddeford’s mill district, said he favors the legislation.

“I never though it was super onerous” to go through subdivision review, said Joslin, but noted many of the requirements for that review had little to do with redeveloping mill buildings. He added, “Anything that eliminates a step that’s not irresponsible is happy days.”

Biddeford officials said they also hope the bill passes.

“The bill itself makes a lot of sense,” said Director of Economic & Community Development Daniel Stevenson, speaking for himself and City Planner Greg Tansley.

It would “streamline” the mill redevelopment process,” he said.

Eliminating the subdivision review requirement would “save cost of redevelopment and time of redevelopment,” said Stevenson, “while (projects) would still get the level of review that is needed.”

“I certainly would like to see (LD 805) come into law,” he said.

Passage of the bill would also eliminate the need to apply for waivers of certain sections multiple times.

The Maine Association of Realtors, the Associated General Contractors of Maine, GrowSmart Maine, and the Maine Real Estate and Development Association all testified in support of LD 805.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the bill Thursday. Both the House and Senate are required to vote on the bill a second time. If it passes, the legislation would then head to the governor’s desk.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected].