Five Lincoln County towns have received approval for a total of $705,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for affordable housing projects. Executive Director Emily Rabbe of Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission explained each of the five proposals to commissioners prior to their Jan. 7 unanimous vote.

Damariscotta, Monhegan, Newcastle, Waldoboro and Wiscasset received the funds.

Damariscotta received $230,000 to identify a parcel for future workforce housing. Funding also includes a feasibility study for extending water and sewer systems, assistance with housing development design, permits and identifying other funding project models. 

Monhegan received a $50,000 grant for engaging a consultant to assist Monhegan Plantation and Monhegan Associates Land Trust (MALT) in determining potential affordable housing options. The consultant would also search for possible housing options on buildable MALT parcels. The consultant would also work with the State Land Use Planning Commission updating municipal ordinance requirements with a goal toward creating more lots for development. 

Newcastle plans to turn a Mills Road tax-acquired property into affordable housing. Newcastle will use a portion of its $120,000 grant to pay the former property owner the appraised property value, according to Rabbe. Under the proposal, Newcastle hired an appraiser who is expected to finish the appraisal this month. "The town will retain this parcel, which is immediately adjacent to another being developed for affordable housing," Rabbe said. "The town's interest is keeping it under municipal ownership, and partnering with a developer building affordable housing for first-responders and municipal staff."

Newcastle would also use funding for site design in determining the number of units, driveway location and utilities for development. 

Waldoboro received $65,000. The proposal includes engaging a consulting firm to perform a detailed review of housing and rental units available in town. Rabbe said the assesment would build off a 2023 Lincoln County Needs Asssessment. The project includes assisting a current water expansion project. "This covers ledge probing and wetlands delineation which are needed to finalize a concept plan and seeking additonal project grants," Rabbe said.

Water expansion is expected to allow more Waldoboro housing development around land near Camden National Bank, according to the proposal.  

Wiscasset received $240,000 to engage an engineering or land use planning firm for a comprehensive regulatory analysis of a 300-acre town-owned Old Ferry Road parcel. "Affordable housing would be looked at for a possible use for this site based on the analysis," Rabbe said. "Concept plans would be developed following analysis and public engagement sessions to better understand needs and desires of residents for possible development."

Rabbe also updated commissioners on other LCRPC business. The commission has entered into a $25,000 service provider agreement with the Governor's Office of Policy, Innovation and Future. As a service provider, the commission will assist Edgecomb and Whitefield in their application into the state's community resilience partnership program. The commission will also assist each town in performing self-assesments of their climate resistance goals, commuinity engagement process and future planning.  Commissioners unanimously approved the agreement.

Commissioners also authorized the commission to apply for a $150,000 Maine Department of Economic and Community Development grant. Rabbe told commissioners the grant would assist in implementing strategies developed in the 2022 LCRPC housing study. "It has 21 strategies for us to implement. Specifically, we are looking to address infrastructure gaps for key development sites, and we are interested in using the state money to perform a sewer and water feasibility study for advancing needed improvements," she said.

Commissioners appointed new member Evan Goodkowsky as their representative to the LCRPC board. He will serve as a non-voting member. Goodkowsky succeeds former Commissioner Mary Trescot.