Housing Projects

This page summarizes and provides information on town lead or co-lead housing projects that are underway, ongoing, or completed.

Projects Underway

The following projects are initatives listed on the Town's Housing Policy Framework.

Town Hill Affordable Workforce Housing Project

Background Information

Off upper Crooked Road, in the Village of Town Hill, is a 55 acre parcel owned by the National Park Service (NPS). The property is Bar Harbor Tax Map-Lot 227-112-000. NPS acquired the land from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. on November 29, 1960 (recorded at Book 876, Page 47), which he gave for “the purpose of the extension or improvement of Acadia National Park.” In December of 2022, Public Law 117-328 authorized the property to be used for "affordable workforce housing" to benefit the towns of Mount Desert Island. The law also states that the NPS to retain no more than 15 acres of the property and for the Town of Bar Harbor to retain the remaining land (about 40 acres). 

The Town of Bar Harbor and NPS are working together towards the development of this land for "affordable workforce housing." This project is collaboratively funded by the town and park through Friends of Acadia. The rough cost share is 27% and 73%, respectively, based on the estimated land split of 15 acres and 40 acres.  

Work Completed and Underway

The project is currently within the Existing Conditions Analysis phase, meaning the project is still in its infancy. The Existing Conditions Analysis phase will help the Town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park better understand what types of housing and the scale of development the land can accommodate, in addition to the most equitable way to divide the parcel among the town and park.

Below are links to documents completed thus far in the Existing Conditions Analysis phase.

Below is the work we are hoping to complete by early 2026. The work below is primarily funded by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development's Housing Opportunity Program Municipal Grant.

  • Comprehensive Analysis of Site Conditions. A detailed ground-proofed existing conditions site analysis showing the site’s natural conditions. 
  • Housing Development Suitability Analysis. Based on the ground-proofed existing site conditions and potential ROW location, determine the housing development areas and areas suitable for different types of septic systems.
  • Division of the Land. The Town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park determine the best way to divide the parcel.


Community Feedback Survey

This survey asks the Bar Harbor community for input on what “success” looks like for this potential housing development site. The engagement effort is intended to focus on Town Hill residents and nearby neighbors. All questions aim to determine what success looks like as it relates to defining the project scope in alignment with the federal legislation. The Town will use the feedback to determine community expectations and guide the project as it moves forward.

The survey will stop taking responses on November 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM.


Contact Information

If you have questions about the town's plans, contact Cali Martinez at cmartinez@barharbormaine.gov or at (207) 288-1788.

If you have questions about Acadia National Park's housing development plans, please contact John Kelly at (207) 288-8703 or John_T_Kelly@nps.gov.

National Park Service Parcel (227-112-000)

subject parcel

Wetland and Vernal Pool Site Plan

Town Hill parcel vernal pool and wetland map 3
Town Hill Survey media post

Ongoing Projects

The projects below are either 'ongoing' in nature or are efforts to inform policy decisions. The projects below are also listed in the Housing Policy Framework.

Redefining "Affordability"

The town's adopted Housing Policy Framework includes Strategy A, Develop Housing Targets, which is an action to prioritize housing types and household income targets for the next decade. This work will influence future regulatory revisions to the definition of affordable housing and associated special requirements in Chapter 125, Land Use. These housing targets can also help the community determine if certain housing types are more suitable in some areas of town more than others, which could influence changes on what housing types are allowed in different zoning districts.

Completed Projects

The following projects were lead by the Planning Department and were integrated into the town's regulations. Contact the Code Enforcement office for details on how these efforts are enforced.

Employee Housing: Shared Accommodations and Employee Living Balancing Bar Harbors Housing Needs story map screenshotQuarters

In 2019, the town started discussing innovative employee housing uses. The new uses that were discussed, were designed to help meet the housing needs of some businesses while also trying to address concerns of some residents regarding neighborhood character.

Two new uses were proposed and approved by the voters in the summer of 2020: "Employee Living Quarters" (ELQ) and "Shared Accommodations" (SA).

In June 2022, the employee living quarters and shared accommodation uses were expanded to more areas in town.

Here are some resources to learn more about these two types of employee housing:


Short-Term Rental Regulations

In order to help slow down the conversion of year-round housing to short-term rentals, the town initiated an effort to create more stringent short-term rental regulations.

The primary goal of the short-term rental regulations was to balance the needs of the town to protect public interests regarding housing affordability, health and safety, and neighborhood quality, while still allowing residents to earn supplemental income from vacation rentals.

Short-term rentals are an ongoing concern for the Town Council, but significant progress was made in 2021 with the passing of a Land Use Ordinance amendment and adoption of Chapter 174. Short-Term Rental Registration.

Here are some resources to learn more about the short-term rental regulations: