Peter Michaud

The Scarborough Planning Board will discuss the project at its Oct. 20 meeting.

The need for more housing in Maine is acute, but it's stymied by a lack of pro-growth policies at both the state and local levels, according to panelists at an event in Portland.

The Massachusetts-based supermarket chain plans to open an 80,000-square-foot store in Scarborough's new Town Center by the fall of 2026.

To help draw national retailers, restaurants and local businesses to the site, the Downs development team has hired Wilder, a Boston-based company with more than 40 properties in 10 states.