Followup for Work Session on LD 2173, An Act To Update The Laws Regarding Housing Developments And Accessory Dwelling Units
February 19, 2026
Senator Curry, Representative Gere, and Honorable Members of the Joint Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development,
I am writing in response to a request from Representative Collamore to provide additional information related to the final portion of my testimony “in support-ish” of LD 2173.
As you know, GrowSmart Maine is a statewide non-partisan non-profit organization helping communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth. Our vision is for Maine communities to be places where people feel safe, that they belong, and where they can thrive. The cost of sprawl makes that incredibly difficult.
Here are the portions of my testimony to which I am adding context with this letter:
You all are keenly and appropriately focused on the challenges Mainers face in affording a place to live. I will remind you all that this important affordability focus is not helped when we require towns to allow density outside of their locally designated growth areas.
Cost of housing is one piece, but when the cost of living includes higher transportation costs for a family living far outside of designated growth areas, as well as increased property taxes to cover the costs of additional services required over a greater portion of the town, this requirement does Mainers no favors.
Key Points:
Municipal budgets expand as demand for services increases. Sprawling growth beyond designated growth areas results in the need for more road maintenance and plowing, additional bus routes and more bus drivers, more police and fire capacity to reach more homes and businesses outside of villages and downtown areas. In addition, higher populations over time require more professional staff in town or city hall to meet demands once managed quite well by part-time staff and volunteers. Once a town hits the tipping point of around 3,000 people, everything changes.
It’s understandable to look at communities that have had significant housing development and question why the increase in housing isn’t helping their municipal budget. It’s important to note that a single family home, especially on the outskirts of town, usually costs a community more in service expenses than the taxes it generates due to the services demands of that home. When open land is converted to housing, the old adage, “cows don’t go to school” says it all. Open space often creates a net gain for municipal budgets, while sprawling housing creates a deficit.
Household budgets increase when daily tasks cannot be done without one or more personal vehicles. Living outside of walkable distances from transit stops, stores, schools, workplaces and third places like places of worship and coffee shops means each household needs one, or often more, drivers and vehicles. With updated estimates showing monthly costs to own and operate a vehicle at about $1,000 a month (far above the $600 I mentioned in the hearing), the cost of living is unattainable for far too many Mainers.
I’ve attached more information on each of these issues, as well as GrowSmart’s Community Guide, The Creeping Cost of Sprawl,” one of many that can be downloaded from our website.
I look forward to additional discussions around improvements that can be made as LD 2173 addresses errors and omissions in LD 1829 from last session.