What's Happening

Planning staff is working with the Long-Range Planning Committee to create an ordinance to allow mobile food vendor plazas or sites in specific zoning areas of town.  The proposal includes site plan requirements, performance standards and mobile food vendor license requirements.

In 2023/2024, the Town Council began the process of reviewing amendments to current traffic impact fees. This is in line with their growth/development-related council goal to update impact fees. Impact fees are fees imposed on a developer by a municipality to support project funding to accommodate growth from the development. 

The Town of Scarborough is considering the creation of a Short Term Rental Ordinance. Scarborough is one of few neighboring communities who do not have an ordinance already, but does have a Planning & Code Enforcement Policy, "'Airbnb' Use of or Within Dwelling Units". A Short Term Rental (STR) Ordinance would establish regulations and possible tracking of STRs in Scarborough. The Town Council will be holding a workshop on June 26, 2024, to continue the discussion and gain more insight into the community's needs. 

Given the rapid growth experienced over the past 20 years, Scarborough hopes to preserve its unique seashores, salt marshes, wetlands, forests, uplands, tidal rivers, and streams. The Town is developing a Conservation Open Space Plan in order to maintain its character and ensure the future of Scarborough's landscapes and natural resources.

With many ongoing and upcoming transportation projects happening through various departments, developers, and MaineDOT, here is a centralized page to access key information. Use the map and specific project pages to dive deeper.

A Transportation Network Study will be conducted in 2024. The last Townwide Transportation Study was completed in 2006. Over the past two decades, infrastructure, development patterns, and priorities have changed. The updated study will look at broad categories within Scarborough's transportation system. 

The Town Council and Board of Education continue plans for a school building project that will address the limitations of our current school infrastructure.

The Town of Scarborough is continuing to take steps toward meeting the ongoing community interest for a community center. The interest is in a multi-generational community center that would meet the recreational and cultural needs of all demographics of the Town. It has previously been explored and has most recently been a central theme of community conversations related to the update to the Comprehensive Plan, Community Survey, and Parks & Facilities Master Plan.

The Town of Scarborough is considering the creation of a Short Term Rental Ordinance. Scarborough is one of few neighboring communities who do not have an ordinance already, but does have a Planning & Code Enforcement Policy, "'Airbnb' Use of or Within Dwelling Units". A Short Term Rental (STR) Ordinance would establish regulations and possible tracking of STRs in Scarborough. The Town Council will be holding a workshop on June 26, 2024, to continue the discussion and gain more insight into the community's needs. 

New proposed Environmental Standards are being drafted through the Conservation Commission.  The new standards, upon approval will be added to Chapter 405B Site Plan Standards. Learn more about what the new ordinance proposal includes.

With many ongoing and upcoming transportation projects happening through various departments, developers, and MaineDOT, here is a centralized page to access key information. Use the map and specific project pages to dive deeper.

A Transportation Network Study will be conducted in 2024. The last Townwide Transportation Study was completed in 2006. Over the past two decades, infrastructure, development patterns, and priorities have changed. The updated study will look at broad categories within Scarborough's transportation system. 

The Town of Scarborough is continuing to take steps toward meeting the ongoing community interest for a community center. The interest is in a multi-generational community center that would meet the recreational and cultural needs of all demographics of the Town. It has previously been explored and has most recently been a central theme of community conversations related to the update to the Comprehensive Plan, Community Survey, and Parks & Facilities Master Plan.

The Town of Scarborough fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. In the Spring, the Town and School begin the annual budget process to prepare for the upcoming fiscal year. Explore the proposed Fiscal Year 2025budget from March through June for budget news, documents, important dates, and more.

LED lights consume a fraction of the electricity consumed by metal halide or high pressure sodium lights to produce an equivalent amount light. LED street lights offer advantages over older lighting technologies and can reduce electricity consumption for street lighting by 75%. LED fixtures will save Scarborough money. Implementing this project offers significant financial benefits to the Town.

The Planning Department is working on a long-term project that includes simplifying our existing ordinances and finding opportunities to incorporate changes where recommended with these consolidations. The overall goal is to create a more cohesive set of standards, while removing ambiguity and subjectivity in the review process. 

Piping Plovers are endangered shore birds that are protected by both State and Federal laws. Each summer, volunteers visit our beaches to educate beachgoers about the birds and to keep an eye on their nests. If you’re interested in helping the Town with our protection efforts, sign up to volunteer as a Beach Monitor!

The Town Council and Board of Education continue plans for a school building project that will address the limitations of our current school infrastructure.

Scarborough received a Community Action Grant for $46,240 for its proposed project, “Climate-Ready Infrastructure: Building a Resilient Route 1 and Pine Point Road”. The funding will be used to develop resiliency strategies for US Route 1 where it crosses Scarborough Marsh and State Route 9 (Pine Point Road) near the Maine Audubon Center. US Route 1 is a major mobility corridor that stretches through the heart of Scarborough.