‘No More Right Now’: Nine Meeting Attendees Urge Strong Limits on Downtown Hotel Growth.

Speakers at a Planning Board hearing said Bar Harbor has reached its tourism capacity and backed a proposed 12-unit cap for new downtown lodging. Carrie Jones Jul 02, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop. BAR HARBOR—Cap hotels in the two main downtown corridors in Bar Harbor, a coastal tourist town, to 12 guest units or less? Nine residents out … Continue reading ‘No More Right Now’: Nine Meeting Attendees Urge Strong Limits on Downtown Hotel Growth.

carriejonesbooksJuly 2, 2026July 2, 2026Leave a comment

news

No New Lodgings Larger than 12 Rooms in Downtown Bar Harbor?

Split Bar Harbor Planning Board Recommends Cap Jun 18, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Viridian Law. BAR HARBOR—In a split vote, the Bar Harbor Planning Board has proposed a 12-unit cap to any future lodging built in downtown Bar Harbor. In a series of daytime workshops this spring, the board has been tweaking, creating, and discussing a graduated lodging scale meant to … Continue reading No New Lodgings Larger than 12 Rooms in Downtown Bar Harbor?

carriejonesbooksJune 18, 2026Leave a comment

news

Hotelier’s Attorney Alleges Bar Harbor Misused Moratorium Process to Block Motel Reconstruction

Carrie Jones Jan 05, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. BAR HARBOR—In a four-page December 29 letter to the Bar Harbor Town Council, an attorney for Holiday Associates of Naples alleges that the town is “unlawfully using the moratorium process as a pretext to stop Holiday Associates’ renovation project of the Park Entrance Motel property.” The letter came on … Continue reading Hotelier’s Attorney Alleges Bar Harbor Misused Moratorium Process to Block Motel Reconstruction

carriejonesbooksJanuary 5, 2026January 5, 2026Leave a comment

news

New Rules Could Reshape Where Some Lodging Goes in Bar Harbor

Town Moves Forward on Potential Lodging Changes Ahead of Potential 2026 Vote Carrie Jones Nov 24, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware. BAR HARBOR—The town has moved forward with potential changes to its land use ordinance to address some residents’ concerns about where lodging can go and its potential impact on the town. The discussion comes while the town is … Continue reading New Rules Could Reshape Where Some Lodging Goes in Bar Harbor

carriejonesbooksNovember 24, 2025November 24, 2025Leave a comment

acadia national park

Evergreen Yurts:

With a lot of hard work, a family’s dream becomes reality Carrie Jones Mar 26, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Swan Agency Real Estate. BAR HARBOR—It’s the fall of 2024, and Kaitlin Hodgkins has a baby on her hip, juggling a baby shoe, a blanket, a cell phone that’s going into her pocket, and so many other things as she surveys … Continue reading Evergreen Yurts:

carriejonesbooksMarch 26, 2025March 26, 2025Leave a comment

Uncategorized

Public Hearing Shows Divided State Opinions About Rep. Friedmann’s Local Options Lodging Tax

Augusta hearing held before Taxation Committee, Wednesday Carrie Jones Mar 13, 2025 Share AUGUSTA—The Maine Taxation Committee listened to public testimony for two closely related bills on local option taxes, March 12. The bills were presented by Rep. Gary Friedmann (D-Bar Harbor) and Rep. Charles Skold (D-Portland). Testimony was meant to encourage the committee to recommend or not recommend the bills’ passage. Both bills would … Continue reading Public Hearing Shows Divided State Opinions About Rep. Friedmann’s Local Options Lodging Tax

carriejonesbooksMarch 13, 2025Leave a comment

Uncategorized

Hotelier Meets With Conners Emerson School Board To Discuss Concerns About Inn at Eden

Carrie Jones Dec 03, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR—On Monday afternoon, local business man and hotelier Stephen Coston met with the Conners-Emerson School Board to discuss his proposed 24-room Inn at Eden Street that would abut the Conners-Emerson School and had caused concern among some residents and the school board about its location. He’d been invited to the meeting by School Board Chair Alexandra Simis. Because of Bar … Continue reading Hotelier Meets With Conners Emerson School Board To Discuss Concerns About Inn at Eden

carriejonesbooksDecember 3, 2024Leave a comment

Uncategorized

Is Bar Harbor Heading Toward a Moratorium?

Town Council takes up potential moratorium Tuesday Carrie Jones Nov 16, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR—A potential moratorium on an “activity of concern” goes before the Bar Harbor Town Council this Tuesday. The wording in the packet of materials that’s publicly available before meetings isn’t completely filled out, but it is likely related to recent moratorium discussions about different types of lodging, which has been brought … Continue reading Is Bar Harbor Heading Toward a Moratorium?

carriejonesbooksNovember 16, 2024Leave a comment

Uncategorized

New Lodging Proposed Near the Corner of Eden Street and Cottage Street

Plan set to go before Planning Board in November Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar Oct 21, 2024 BAR HARBOR—Stephen Coston, who will be represented by Tom St.Germain at the Bar Harbor Planning Board, has taken out an application for the Inn at Eden Street, which would be located at 40 Eden Street for a multi-storied 25-room inn on a small parcel of land that directly … Continue reading New Lodging Proposed Near the Corner of Eden Street and Cottage Street

carriejonesbooksOctober 21, 2024Leave a comment

Uncategorized

No Moratorium Again For Now

Council directs town manager to let them know if certain big projects are in the pipeline CARRIE JONES APR 17, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR—A potential moratorium on five types of transient accommodations in several zones in Bar Harbor failed to become a reality during the Bar Harbor Town Council meeting on Tuesday. The moratorium was initially suggested by Councilor Earl Brechlin at an April 2 … Continue reading No Moratorium Again For Now

carriejonesbooksApril 17, 2024Leave a comment