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A Bar Harbor resident has filed a lawsuit arguing that the Bar Harbor Town Council is violating the town's cruise ship passenger limit by not properly enforcing it.
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Bar Harbor voters approved an ordinance two years ago that places a cap on the number of cruise ship passengers to 1,000 per day.
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A group of Bar Harbor business owners had filed a legal challenge to the ordinance that limits daily visits to 1,000 visitors per day, claiming it violates provisions of both the Maine and U.S. constitutions.
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After months of preparations, trial proceedings begin Tuesday for a lawsuit pitting Bar Harbor businesses against the town.
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Vacation rental companies are reporting a slowdown in May and June compared to the last two years. Some operators say the number of bookings is now closer to pre-pandemic levels.
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A federal judge is expected to weigh in on the merits of a controversial Bar Harbor ordinance that would limit the number of cruise ship passengers allowed visit the town.
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The plaintiffs, which include retail stores, restaurants and tender operators, believe the town's ordinance violates federal maritime laws and several clauses of the US Constitution. They're seeking injunctive relief from an ordinance that Bar Harbor voters adopted this fall.
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A similar initiative failed to win approval from Portland voters. Bar Harbor officials say they anticipate legal challenges to the new cruise ship policy, and the town will need to hire more staff to enforce it.
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As Mount Desert Island's tourist economy has grown in recent years, cruise ships have become a flashpoint in a years-long debate over how much is too much. The town of Bar Harbor is openly divided over what to do next.
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Bar Harbor will limit the number of cruise ships and passengers under a new agreement reached with the industry, but residents will have a chance to vote on a more restrictive proposal in November.