A Legislative Update with Jason Howe and Matt Pouliot

Jason Howe, an attorney at Preti Flaherty and Co-Chair of MEREDA’s Public Policy Committee, and Matt Pouliot, a realtor and developer at Pouliot Real Estate and Maine Senator, sit down with Elizabeth Frazier, an attorney and government relations’ advocate at Pierce Atwood, for the third episode in the second season of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. The group provides an exciting and informative discussion on some achievements in Augusta for real estate development laws. Pouliot, who served in Augusta for 12 years and was on the Joint Select Committee on Housing, shares about LD337, a bill the Joint Select Committee recently passed that opens up more opportunities for manufactured housing, while still allowing for local control around design standards. The group goes on to discuss the need for creativity in housing creation and Howe provides an overview of another bill, LD1289, which facilitates the transfer of assets and will support more property development and affordable housing creation. Continuing the conversation on affordable housing, the group also looks at another bill, LD1294, which has a lot of city planners talking and will expand the use of commercial zones to also include housing. The group goes on to discuss the importance of elevators for housing creation and smart growth development, as well as a landmark bill that passed with bi-partisan support that will have a big impact on development in Maine: LD772, also known as the “Permitting Predictability Act.” What else is on the horizon for exciting new real estate development laws in Maine? Listen to the episode to find out!