The Biddeford Planning Board voted 3-2 Wednesday to give final approval for the University of New England’s controversial proposal to build a research pier on the Saco River in front of their Biddeford campus. The board’s decision caps off almost two years of a somewhat complex regulatory review process that […]
Tag: UNE
Planning board member blasts mayor, city council over UNE proposal: ‘something feels fishy’
In a surprise move, Roch Angers — a former Biddeford city councilor and current member of the city’s planning board – told members of the city council Tuesday that he has serious concerns about the University of New England’s plans to construct a large pier on the Saco River. “Something […]
Mooring owners to mayor: ‘We’re not budging’
A stalemate is brewing on the Saco River. Several private mooring owners in Biddeford say they are being ignored by city leaders and will not move their moorings on the Saco River to accommodate the University of New England’s proposal to build a new pier for its research vessel. The […]
Tensions in Biddeford increasing
A number of elected and appointed officials in Biddeford are now expressing increasing frustration about how the city is handling some large development projects, including an affordable housing development in downtown and a large-scale research pier being proposed by the University of New England. This short video clip was distributed […]
Planning board hits pause button on UNE pier
Following more than an hour of impassioned public testimony, the Biddeford Planning Board voted unanimously Wednesday to table further review of UNE’s controversial pier proposal until all board members can participate in a site walk. Although the Planning Board conducted a site walk at the university on June 9, board […]
Board members get front-row view of UNE’s controversial pier proposal
A small group of slightly more than 40 people attended a Biddeford Planning Board site walk near the location of where the University of New England wants to construct a new pier to dock its marine research vessel. The proposed pier includes a 130-foot approach pier with an 80 by […]
UNE hopes to correct ‘misinformation’
Just a few days after hearing several negative comments from the public about their proposed research and docking pier, officials from the University of New England distributed a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document with the media and community leaders. The university (UNE) says the FAQ document is intended to clarify […]
UNE blasted before Biddeford Planning Board
During Wednesday’s Planning Board meeting, not a single member of the public spoke in favor of the proposed location for a research-docking pier that the University of New England wants to build on the Saco River. Although several people told the board that they supported the idea of UNE building […]
Abutters raise concerns about UNE’s proposed pier
Mike Ramunno, a tuna fisherman from Biddeford, has owned his mooring in the Saco River for more than six years. He says no one from the city of Biddeford or the University of New England has contacted him about the university’s plan to build a large pier for their 60-foot […]
Mayor defends city review of UNE pier proposal
During a sometimes terse and heated meeting, Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman defended the way the city has acted during the review of a controversial pier that the University of New England wants to construct on the Saco River. The nearly hour-long meeting was held at the request of John Schafer, […]
