PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 18, 2025
Biddeford City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 6 to halt the permitting process for the proposed University of New England pier and consult the Maine Attorney General’s office. The council passed a resolution to “withhold further permitting or authorization” related to the project, which has received backlash from community members over the past year. At the heart of the debate is the location of the proposed pier, which would be located in the Saco River adjacent to the Arthur P. Girard Marine Science Center on the UNE campus. The pier would be 80 feet long, and according to residents, would displace dozens of boats moored in the river.