Historic preservation in Maine local government
What Maine city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about historic preservation — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
107 Maine meetings since 2024 covered historic preservation. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Maine with the most historic preservation activity
- Portland, ME (38)
- Biddeford, ME (30)
- Bangor, ME (21)
- Waterville, ME (7)
- York, ME (2)
- Rockland, ME (2)
- Presque Isle, ME (2)
- Fryeburg, ME (1)
- Waldo County, ME (1)
- Winthrop, ME (1)
- Cumberland, ME (1)
- Brunswick, ME (1)
Latest matching meetings
HPC to review remodeling of 12 Pearl Street for residential use
The Historic Preservation Commission will review two applications: an expansion at 11 Smalls Court by Aiden Lane and a remodeling at 12 Pearl Street by Coastal Oaks for residential use. The commission will also consider approval of minutes from the June 10, 2026 meeting.
Review of alterations at 522 Congress Street by Maine College of Art & Design
The Historic Preservation Board will hold a workshop to review proposed alterations to the building at 522 Congress Street submitted by Maine College of Art & Design (Plan HP-00092-2026). No public hearing or decisions are scheduled for this meeting. The agenda also includes roll call, a quorum declaration, and a…
Town will vote on a lease with the Fryeburg Historical Society for 103 Lovell Road.
The Select Board will review and act on the updated Maintenance and Operation Agreement for the Mountain Division Recreation Rail Trail Fryeburg segment. It will hold a public hearing and vote on a special amusement permit and a liquor license renewal for Dimitra LLC/Fryeburg House of Pizza. The board will also…
Commission to decide on awning for Paloma Gifts storefront in historic district
The Historic Preservation Commission will vote on a Certificate of Appropriateness for a black and white striped awning at 30 Central Street (Paloma Gifts) in the Great Fire Historic District. They will also continue a discussion on character-defining features in Bangor's historic districts.
Review of a new four‑building commercial development on Woodbridge Road
The York Historic District Commission will hold its regular meeting and accept public comments. Commissioners will review three applications: removal of a garage at 24 Church Street, removal and replacement of a structure at 27 Ocean Ave Ext, and a new four‑building commercial development at 7 Woodbridge Road located…
County Commissioners review 2027 budgets and asset forfeiture transfers
The Waldo County Commissioners will consider consent agenda items including approval of June 18, 2026 minutes and a finance report. They will discuss the 2027 budget for the Waldo County Soil & Water Conservation District and later discuss 2027 budget requests for Commissioners (1020) and Records Preservation (2040)…
Board to discuss new construction at 57 St. Lawrence Street
The Historic Preservation Board will hold a workshop to review a new construction proposal at 57 St. Lawrence Street by St. Lawrence North, LLC & Fafnir Design & Development. The board will also receive a report on the previous approval of new construction at 8 Garrison Street Extension and hear an announcement about…
Commission to finalize approval for facade repairs at 43-49 Main Street
The Historic Preservation Commission will adopt final decisions regarding stone-veneer repairs at 43-49 Main Street. The body will also discuss the character-defining features of the city's historic districts.
Commission reviews request to remove John Tarr House from National Register
The Historic Preservation Commission is holding a special meeting to discuss the John Tarr House at 29 Ferry Road. The body will review a request for removal from the National Register of Historic Places and craft a response to concerns raised by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.
Bangor to hold public hearings on park designations and preservation rules
The Historic Preservation Commission will hold public hearings regarding the historic designation of three city parks and proposed changes to the Historic Preservation Ordinance. The body will also review a design request for facade repairs on Main Street.
Review of demolition request for 41 Main Street
The Historic Preservation Commission will review a request to demolish an existing structure at 41 Main Street in the MSRD-1 Zone. The commission will also consider approving meeting minutes from April and May 2026.
Ethics decision on Councilor Mallar's actions highlights meeting
The Bangor City Council will hold a workshop and regular meeting. Key items include a decision on an ethics complaint against a councilor, accepting criminal forfeiture funds, purchasing airport equipment, reallocating funds for a sewer project, and restructuring a loan for affordable housing. First readings of…
Council to vote on $1.3M Cumberland Street sewer separation contract
The City Council will consider a consent agenda including a $1.3 million sewer separation project on Cumberland Street, acceptance of criminal forfeiture funds totaling about $2,589, a $305,280 air start unit for the airport, acceptance of 15.452 acres of open space for Roseledge Estates, and loan restructuring for…
Victorian District study update: potential historic district for Kennebec Water District
The Historic Preservation Commission will receive a status update on the Victorian District Study, including a recent email from Maine Historic Preservation Commission indicating potential National Register historic districts. The commission will also review minutes from May that discussed preservation of 165-167 Main…
Public hearing on new construction at 8 Garrison Street Extension
The Historic Preservation Board will hold a public hearing on a new construction project proposed by Debra and James Robbins at 8 Garrison Street Extension (Plan HP-00082-2026). The board will also receive reports of decisions from the May 20 meeting, including approval of alterations at 28 Waterville Street and…
Planning Board to vote on five Comprehensive Plan chapters
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing to review and vote on several chapters of the Comprehensive Plan. These chapters cover natural resources, water, land use, and historic archaeological resources.
Historic Preservation Commission meeting cancelled
The June 3, 2026, meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission has been cancelled. The agenda included a review of the NRHP removal request for the John Tarr House at 29 Ferry Road.
Committee to recommend historic preservation code updates adding flexibility
The Business & Economic Development Committee will consider sending recommendations to the full City Council on several items, including proposed updates to the Historic Preservation Code to add flexibility for material changes, heat pumps, and demolition after disasters. They will also review a solar feasibility…
Council to discuss ethics board finding Mallar violated code
The City Council is meeting in a workshop to discuss the Ethics Board's decision that Councilor Wayne Mallar violated the City's Code of Ethics during an August 2025 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. The board found Mallar improperly used his title and undermined public confidence by approaching commissioners…
Zoning Board to consider flood elevation variance for historic building at 58 Bean Pot Cir
The Portland Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a hybrid public hearing on three appeals. Items include a hardship variance to replace an electronic sign at 155 Riverside Street, a practical difficulty variance to reduce a rear yard setback at 279 Congress Street, and a hardship variance to keep a historic building's…
Institutional Zone Review Committee meets May 21, 2026
The committee will review materials including the Institutional Zone Review Memo and various maps. The agenda includes approval of previous minutes and a review of institutional zone and preservation mapping.
Public hearings on new construction at 30 Atlantic St and alterations at 28 Waterville St
The Historic Preservation Board will hold public hearings on two applications: alterations at 28 Waterville Street and new construction at 30 Atlantic Street. The board will also hear reports of decisions from its April 15 meeting, including a recommendation for the National Register nomination of the Little Diamond…
Public Art Commission discusses goals, master plan, and Five Points project
The Biddeford Public Art Commission will discuss its 2025-2026 goals, including a master plan, filling vacant seats, and spending the budget by end of FY26. The commission will also discuss the Five Points project with the Downtown Development Commission and the City Hall Gallery. A review of ongoing projects includes…
Commission to discuss historic designation for three parks and ordinance changes
The Historic Preservation Commission will adopt findings for three properties (198 Broadway, 28 W Broadway, and 218 Ohio Street) from previous meetings. They will hold a public workshop on the proposed local historic designation of Broadway Park, Chapin Park, and Davenport Park, with a formal public hearing in June…
Commission to conduct site walk of 29 Ferry Lane
The Historic Preservation Commission will perform a site walk at The John Tarr House located at 29 Ferry Lane. This item is listed under unfinished business.
Historic commission approves removal of 99 Main Street awning
The commission will discuss status updates on properties at 165-167 Main Street and 99 Main Street, progress on the Victorian District Study, and a commission vacancy. The previous meeting saw approval of removing a metal awning at 99 Main Street and amendments to bylaws.
HDC to review two property redevelopment proposals
The York Historic District Commission will review two applications under Section 12.17 of the York Zoning Ordinance, both for properties not located within the Historic District. One proposal involves removing an existing structure at 81 Nubble Road and replacing it with one that better conforms with zoning. The other…
Committee to recommend historic designation for three Bangor parks
The Business & Economic Development Committee will vote on recommending that the full City Council designate Broadway Park, Chapin Park, and Davenport Park as local historic landmarks. They will also discuss updates on the Banair project and the Central Kitchen initiative, and hear about upcoming short-term rental…
Public hearing on 4-story self-storage at 97 Warren Avenue
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on a major site plan for a four-story self-storage building with 11 parking spaces at 97 Warren Avenue. A workshop for a 13-lot conservation subdivision at 410 Auburn Street was cancelled. The board also tabled a mixed-use project at 221 Congress Street and an appeal of a…
Commission to discuss draft historic preservation ordinance changes
The Historic Preservation Commission will hold a public hearing and vote on three certificates of appropriateness for window replacement, gutter work, and an ADA ramp in historic districts. They will also discuss proposed changes to the historic preservation ordinance, including revisions to demolition rules.
Board to consider National Register nomination for Little Diamond Island Casino
The Historic Preservation Board will hold a public hearing on a National Register nomination for the Little Diamond Island Casino at 0 Fessenden Avenue, and review alterations at St. Paul's Parish Church at 279 Congress Street. A workshop will discuss new construction at 30 Atlantic Street. The board will also receive…
HPC to review accessory dwelling unit at 74 Summer Street
The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a review of a proposed unattached accessory dwelling unit at 74 Summer Street (Tax Map 39, Lot 14) in the MSRD-2 Zone. The applicant is T & T Leasing. The commission will also vote on approving minutes from its April 8, 2026 meeting.
Planning Board to hear appeal of 30-unit housing project at 42 Atlantic Street
The Portland Planning Board will hold a public hearing on an appeal of a Historic Preservation Board decision for a 30-unit housing project at 42 Atlantic Street. Additionally, the board will conduct workshops on a zoning map amendment for 1220 Brighton Avenue and a major site plan for a Boys & Girls Club addition at…
Committee to discuss public restroom project and plan 2026 proclamations and events
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will hold a discussion meeting on April 13, 2026. Key items include a presentation on the Public Restroom Project by General Assistance Supervisor Jake Hammer, and planning for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Proclamation, the 2026 Proclamation…
Commission to review facade improvement for 99 Main Street, vote on bylaw amendments
The Historic Preservation Commission will review an application for a facade improvement at 99 Main Street, a vacant commercial property in the Waterville Main Street Historic District. The commission will also vote on proposed amendments to its bylaws concerning application review timelines and the annual report…
Historic Commission to decide on two renovation permits
The Historic Preservation Commission will adopt findings for a previously approved project at 62 High Street and review two new Certificate of Appropriateness applications: gutter work at 28 W Broadway in Whitney Park Historic District and an ADA-compliant ramp at 218 Ohio Street in Thomas Hill Historic District.
Commission continues discussion on removal from National Register
The Historic Preservation Commission will review two new business items: a rooftop solar installation at 1 Wentworth Street and an accessory structure for food donation at 118 Alfred Street. They will also continue their discussion on removal from the National Register of Historic Places and consider Section 106…
Board will hold a public hearing on a new garage and addition at 381 Danforth
The Historic Preservation Board will review decisions made at its March 4 meeting, including approval of a new construction project at 142 Free Street and adoption of an updated Historic Resources Design Manual. It will then conduct a public hearing on a proposed garage and addition at 381 Danforth. No other reports…
Board of Ethics to review advisory opinion on Councilor Mallar’s 2025 historic preservation
The Board of Ethics meeting on March 31, 2026 will elect a chair, receive training, and approve minutes from the March 4, 2026 meeting. It will also consider the City Council’s request for an advisory opinion (CO 25‑282) regarding Councilor Wayne Mallar’s actions at the August 14, 2025 Historic Preservation Commission…
Commission to review business sign application for 179 Main Street
The Historic Preservation Commission will review an application for a business sign at 179 Main Street. The body will also discuss its annual report and the status of the Victorian Center Neighborhood.