Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability Downtown

The Themes from What we’ve heard:

Environmental responsibility and stewardship.
Mixed-use development and smart growth principles.
Housing for all incomes.
More local businesses downtown.

Discussion Questions

How can future development fit into a larger framework of smart growth and sustainable development?
How can we capitalize on the existing transportation system - Amtrak- The Breeze? Is there potential for Transit-Oriented Development?
What are the priorities of the Sustainability Advisory Board?
What are the priorities of Freeport Climate Action Now?
What are the state programs and initiatives that Freeport can take advantage of in the near term?
What organizations outside of downtown (within Freeport) can help make an impact in Downtown?
Are we prepared for: heat waves, floods, hurricanes, blizzards? What other climate-related threats or impacts is Freeport facing?
What type of sustainability is most important to you?
How does new development impact the sustainability of Freeport?

Environmental, Social, and Economic Sustainability

Climate Change and the Downtown Freeport of Tomorrow

While climate change will have potential impacts on coastal communities in the coming decades, there are strategies and systems that cities and towns can implement to be prepared and resilient in response to emerging threats and changing conditions. Many of the strategies that communities can implement have positive effects on the daily lives of individuals and the community as a whole. As individuals, companies, and communities become greener, more sustainable, and healthier, the Town becomes a more resilient community overall.

The Town of Freeport is committed to the sustainability and resilience of the community. The Freeport Sustainability Advisory Board was created by the Town Council and advises the Freeport Town Council and/or Town Staff on sustainability related policies and recommendations. Their mission is to advise the Town Council on the sustainability and resiliency of present and future operations, highlights potential opportunities, and promotes new and existing sustainability efforts. The Freeport Sustainability Advisory Board focuses on the following areas of consideration: waste, recycling, and composting; environmental health and diversity; land use, construction, and building operations; carbon footprint, emissions, and pollution; energy and electricity; education; food; culture; transportation; conservation. There are also local community groups and organizations committed to finding solutions to the impacts and threats of climate change in Freeport.

The Town Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan 2011) set forth a vision for preserving undeveloped areas, continuing to improve air and water quality, and reducing energy consumption through efficient land use and building use, efficient building design, non-car transportation opportunities, and clean waste management. What steps has the community made towards achieving this vision? How have the community’s sustainability goals for the downtown changed since the Comp Plan was written in 2011? What sustainability goals should be included in the framework for the future of Downtown Freeport?

We have heard from the community that as Freeport grows in population, subsequent development should be thoughtful and fit into a framework of Smart Growth and a reduction of overall carbon emissions. The community also feels a strong connection to the outdoors, especially the natural resources, parks, and open spaces within Freeport. These outdoor spaces should continue to be protected, including the network of green spaces Downtown. We have heard that there are opportunities to assess the energy efficiency of existing public and private buildings and infrastructure and incentivize green building practices in new development. We've also heard that embracing sustainability and innovative solutions is an opportunity for the Town to attract potential companies and/or small businesses that share similar values and add to the ecosystem of sustainability within Freeport.

We need the community’s help to define how we can establish a sustainability framework for the future of Downtown Freeport. In this newsletter, we share best practices around smart growth, community resiliency, and topics for further discussion. Please join us on Friday, February 4th, 2022 at 1PM to participate in this in-depth Topic Session discussion on Environmental, Social, and Economic Sustainability. For more details and to register, visit the website:

Downtown Design Week

Principles of Smart Growth and Downtown Freeport

Smart Growth is a concept championed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) that is an overall approach to development that encourages a mix of building types and uses, diverse housing and transportation options, development within existing neighborhoods, and robust community engagement to achieve sustainable communities. The following section outlines the 10 principles of smart growth and poses questions for further discussion on how these tactics might be applied to Freeport.

Principles of Smart Growth

Mix Land Uses - Mixing land uses means building homes, offices, schools, parks, shops, restaurants, and other types of development near one another - on the same block or even within the same building. Mixing land uses makes it possible for people to live closer to where they work or shop, reducing reliance on a vehicle and overall vehicle trips.
Recently, the Town Council approved zoning changes to allow mixed-use development in several zoning districts near the downtown area. What else can we do to encourage development in or near Downtown to add to the existing fabric of this walkable neighborhood?
Compact Design - Compact design means being efficient with existing infrastructure and previously developed land. Building within an existing neighborhood can attract more people to the jobs, homes, and businesses already there while making the most of public investments in infrastructure like water, sewer lines, roads, and emergency services.
Is there potential for infill development, such as housing or mixed-use buildings, on existing underutilized parking lots in Downtown Freeport?
Create A Range of Housing Opportunities and Choices - Building quality housing for families of all ages and income levels is an integral part of Smart Growth principles and is aligned with the feedback we heard from the residents as well as the vision from the Town’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan 2011) to allow “a variety of neighborhoods and housing types, at a variety of prices”. A diversity of housing options is essential for accommodating an aging population looking to downsize and young people who want to live close to Freeport's Downtown.
Are Freeport's current housing options limited? Is there an opportunity to diversify housing types in Downtown Freeport?
Create Walkable Neighborhoods - The demand for walkable neighborhoods is growing. People recognize that walking is a convenient, healthy, and affordable way to get around. Walkable and accessible places are created by mixing land uses and compact design within a thoughtful network of streets designed for the comfort and enjoyment of pedestrians, and cyclists.
The Town has already taken steps to create a walkable town by adopting its first Complete Streets Policy in December 2020. Is there an opportunity to integrate complete streets design guidelines into future and existing streets downtown?
Foster Distinctive, Attractive Communities with A Strong Sense of Place - The Town of Freeport has a distinct character and heritage which is also anchored by a well-known national brand, L.L.Bean, which attracts visitors from around the world.
How can Freeport continue celebrating its history, natural features, and arts and culture assets to support a vibrant community?
Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty, And Critical Environmental Areas - Development should be forbidden on wetlands and other sensitive ecological areas in Freeport and encouraged within the downtown area.
Freeport has two urban impaired streams that could potentially be impacted by development in the Village. How can the Town ensure that future development in Downtown Freeport incorporates best practices in Watershed and Stormwater Management?
Direct Development Towards Existing Investments - Developing within existing developed areas—rather than building on previously undeveloped land—makes the most of the investments we’ve already made in roads, bridges, water pipes, and other infrastructure, while strengthening local tax bases and protecting open space.
Should Infill development, such as building on existing parking lots, be prioritized over greenfield development or building on undeveloped land whenever possible? How does development downtown fit into the overall framework of the future of growth of the Town overall?
Provide A Variety of Transportation Choices - High-quality public transportation, safe, accessible, and convenient walking, biking infrastructure, and well-maintained roads and sidewalks help communities attract people, compete on a global scale, and improve the day-to-day life of their residents for people of all ages and abilities.
Should future infrastructure investments prioritize complete street design and public transit infrastructure? Can future development be transit-oriented and encouraged near Downtown's existing transit facilities, such as the Downeaster Train service and the MetroBreez bus service?
Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair, And Cost-Effective - Developers play a crucial role in building towns and cities. Many developers may want to create walkable, urban places, but restrictive regulations or complicated approval processes limit the potential of these efforts. Municipalities interested in encouraging Smart Growth can and should examine their rules and streamline the permitting and approval process to make development decisions more timely, cost-effective, and predictable for developers looking to build consistently with Smart Growth principles.
How can the Town create a supportive environment for developing innovative, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use projects?
Encourage Community and Stakeholder Collaboration in Development Decisions - Smart Growth is not possible without the perspective of everyone with a vested interest in a town, city, or neighborhood. Smart Growth is about building a future for a community that everyone can participate in and help guide and implement the ongoing sustainability plan. Gathering ideas, feedback, and support in a community is the only way to do that. This process is inclusive and equitable and will give projects built-in support and staying power.
How can the Town continue to improve the development process for all stakeholders to create an inclusive and equitable process?

(Sources: smartgrowthamerica.org, The Smart Growth Manual by Andres Duany, Jeff Speck, and Mike Lydon, 2010)

Sea Level Rise and Stormwater Management

(Data Source: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/flood/mapping.shtml )

Directing mixed-use and infill development in Freeport's downtown village center is aligned with the principles of smart growth. We have heard feedback from the community that there is a desire to create a neighborhood center with housing downtown. Since Freeport is a coastal community, there are areas of existing wetlands and shorelines at risk of flooding where development should be limited. Is downtown an appropriate location to encourage growth from a resiliency and sustainability perspective? If so, how can the Town ensure that future development incorporates best practices in stormwater management, focusing on reducing runoff, improving water quality, and minimizing impervious surfaces? How does downtown fit into the framework of growth and development overall?

Resiliency and Community Preparedness

Community resilience is the community's ability to withstand, adapt, and recover from a disaster or public health emergency. The most common threat that Maine's residents face is extreme snowstorms, but as we all learned from the pandemic of 2020, towns need to prepare for even the most unexpected events. The Town of Freeport is currently in the process of developing an Emergency Management Plan so that all residents of Freeport can access resources and information that would help them prepare for and recover from potential emergencies or natural disasters. The process of developing an Emergency Management and Community Resilience Plan at the high level involves gathering key stakeholders, identifying community hazards and threats, identifying solutions and implementation strategies for deploying solutions, and finally, gathering community awareness, support, and approval. What common or uncommon threats do we need to consider in the long-term planning for Freeport's Downtown? How do impacts of climate change impact your day-to-day life in Freeport?

Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled

Our previous Newsletter explored the topic of walking, biking, and accessibility in Downtown Freeport and how to improve walkability, bicycle infrastructure, and universal design principles. Designing better streets, creating safer biking and walking experiences, and the ease of getting around Downtown contribute to shifting human behavior and encouraging healthier transportation choices. How can we encourage more people to use sustainable modes of transportation in Freeport? As a resident of Freeport, what would encourage or make it easier for you to reduce your vehicle use?

Embracing public transit and encouraging development near existing transit facilities can reduce vehicle trips by giving people the opportunity to live close to where they work or run errands. The train station on Depot Street with Downeaster train service and the MetroBreez bus service are existing public transportation assets. Do you ride the train or the bus? What would encourage you or make it easier for you to ride the train or bus instead of drive?

Recent innovations in electric vehicles have created new demand for EV charging stations in Town. There are currently several charging stations in Downtown Freeport. How can we continue to encourage private companies and developers to provide EV charging stations in new and existing developments?

Establish Incentives and Standards for Green Practices

Small towns across the country are embracing innovative practices in sustainability. In addition to recent zoning changes that allowed more density and height in certain village districts, how can the Town encourage sustainable growth and green building practices? For example, some towns and cities allow density bonuses for LEED certified or Passive House Certified buildings to incentivize green building practices. How can the Town incentivize green building practices in downtown?

Local Food and Fresh Produce

We heard from residents that one of the biggest challenges facing downtown Freeport is the lack of food options. The Town of Freeport is home to numerous local farms. Is there an opportunity to connect these local farms to Downtown with both temporary and long-term solutions? We heard feedback that many of Freeport's residents would like to see a downtown farmer's market occur year-round. Where could it be located outdoors in warmer months and indoors during the winter? Farmer's markets are a great way to bring in local and fresh produce and provide small businesses and local vendors with a low-cost option to sell products and access a local customer base. What else can be done to support farmer’s markets in Downtown Freeport?

Community gardening is a great way to promote healthy eating habits and fresh, local produce. There is a strong culture of community gardening in Freeport and Maine in general. There are existing plots of community gardens Downtown that are well maintained and in high demand. The community gardens have been "hosted" by a private property owner in the past and current location. FCS is currently supporting this local program: https://fcsmaine.org/services-and-programs/food/ . How else can the community continue to support community gardening?

The Future of Downtown

No long-term vision for a neighborhood is complete without an underlying sustainability strategy. We hope you can join us on Friday, February 4th, 2022 at 1PM to participate in the Topic Session: Environmental, Social, and Economic Sustainability during Downtown Design Week to dig deeper into how we can make Downtown Freeport a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient community.