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Municipal Comprehensive Municipal Comprehensive PlanningPlanning

Planning is:Planning is:A) A lot of workA) A lot of work

and and B) Often politically unpopular, so B) Often politically unpopular, so

Why Bother?Why Bother?

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Thinking ahead and imagining Thinking ahead and imagining how current development how current development

patterns and land use patterns and land use regulations (or lack thereof) will regulations (or lack thereof) will change your community over change your community over

time is important to many time is important to many people. people.

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A Comprehensive Plan is a A Comprehensive Plan is a blueprint for your communityblueprint for your community

1.1. InventoriesInventories and and AnalysesAnalyses of the existing of the existing conditions in your town- its people and its conditions in your town- its people and its resourcesresources

2.2. PoliciesPolicies to address issues raised in the to address issues raised in the analysesanalyses

3.3. StrategiesStrategies to implement the plan to implement the plan4.4. Regional coordinationRegional coordination to manage shared to manage shared

resourcesresources5.5. An An implementation programimplementation program to follow through to follow through

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The Planning and Land Use The Planning and Land Use Regulation ActRegulation Act

Title 30-A Chapter 187.Title 30-A Chapter 187.Also known as the Growth Management Act, Also known as the Growth Management Act,

this is the state law that guides the this is the state law that guides the municipal comprehensive planning municipal comprehensive planning process.process.

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10 State Goals10 State Goals

1.1. To encourage orderly growth and development in To encourage orderly growth and development in appropriate areas of each community, while appropriate areas of each community, while protecting the State's rural character, making protecting the State's rural character, making efficient use of public services and preventing efficient use of public services and preventing development sprawl;development sprawl;

2.2. To plan for, finance and develop an efficient system To plan for, finance and develop an efficient system of public facilities and services to accommodate of public facilities and services to accommodate anticipated growth and economic development;anticipated growth and economic development;

3.3. To promote an economic climate which increases To promote an economic climate which increases job opportunities and overall economic well-being;job opportunities and overall economic well-being;

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4.4. Affordable housing;Affordable housing;

5.5. Water resources;Water resources;

6.6. Critical natural resources;Critical natural resources;

7.7. Marine resources;Marine resources;

8.8. Agricultural and forest resources;Agricultural and forest resources;

9.9. Historic and archeological resources; Historic and archeological resources; andand

10.10. Outdoor recreationOutdoor recreation

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Are You Required to Have a Plan?Are You Required to Have a Plan?

State LAW (not SPO) requires towns with State LAW (not SPO) requires towns with zoning, growth caps, or impact fees to zoning, growth caps, or impact fees to have a comprehensive plan consistent have a comprehensive plan consistent with the Growth Management Act.with the Growth Management Act.

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However, don’t forget ..However, don’t forget ..your zoning, building/growth cap, or your zoning, building/growth cap, or

impact fee ordinance must be consistent impact fee ordinance must be consistent with your Comprehensive Plan.with your Comprehensive Plan.

Or you could be in trouble with a Or you could be in trouble with a Judge!Judge!

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Other Good Reasons to PlanOther Good Reasons to Plan

Grant preference pointsGrant preference points

Growth-related state capital investmentsGrowth-related state capital investments

It makes sense to have a “business plan” It makes sense to have a “business plan” for your town.for your town.

It is a good idea to think about the future!It is a good idea to think about the future!

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So Where Do We Start?So Where Do We Start?

Step 1 - VisioningStep 1 - Visioning

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VisioningVisioning

Sounds new age, but is really just a fancy Sounds new age, but is really just a fancy way of asking people to get together and way of asking people to get together and talk about the future.talk about the future.

Imagine for a momentImagine for a moment

what your communitywhat your community

could be at its very best.could be at its very best.

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Step 2 - Inventory and AnalysisStep 2 - Inventory and Analysis

What’s meaningful to look at? What’s meaningful to look at?

What trends can we identify? What trends can we identify?

If trends continue, what will be the impact If trends continue, what will be the impact on our community?on our community?

What issues deserve special attention? What issues deserve special attention?

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The Law Requires…The Law Requires…

There are 13 required Inventory There are 13 required Inventory topics (in no particular order):topics (in no particular order):

(HINT: (HINT: Use the Rule Checklist!)Use the Rule Checklist!)

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13 Required Inventory Topics13 Required Inventory Topics

• PopulationPopulation• Local EconomyLocal Economy• Water ResourcesWater Resources• Other Natural ResourcesOther Natural Resources• Agriculture & ForestryAgriculture & Forestry• Marine ResourcesMarine Resources• Historic & Archeological Historic & Archeological

ResourcesResources

• Land Use• Housing• Transportation• Recreation &

Open Space• Public Facilities &

Services• Fiscal Capacity

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Population Growth 2000 – 2020Population Growth 2000 – 2020Source: US Census & Maine State Office of Planning (December 2005) Source: US Census & Maine State Office of Planning (December 2005)

02000400060008000

100001200014000160001800020000

Eliot S Berwick Kittery York

1990 2000 2010 2020

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Take advantage of Beginning with HabitatTake advantage of Beginning with Habitat

http://www.beginningwithhabitat.org/index.html

March 12: WoolwichMarch 20: Phippsburg

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Step 3.Step 3. Develop Policies and Strategies Develop Policies and Strategies

If trends continue will it get your community to its If trends continue will it get your community to its vision?vision?

If so, terrific! Easy policies and strategies.If so, terrific! Easy policies and strategies.

If not, what steps can be taken to change the If not, what steps can be taken to change the course? course?

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What is a policy?What is a policy? A policy is a specific A policy is a specific statement of principle or course of action.statement of principle or course of action.

Policies should be realisticPolicies should be realistic

Policies should be linked to issues that arise Policies should be linked to issues that arise from inventories and analyses from inventories and analyses

To the greatest extent possible, policies should To the greatest extent possible, policies should be “directive” and be specific enough that there be “directive” and be specific enough that there isn’t confusion about the direction the Town isn’t confusion about the direction the Town should takeshould take

Policies should not contradict each otherPolicies should not contradict each other

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What is a strategy?What is a strategy? In general, In general, implementation strategies describe how the implementation strategies describe how the

policies will be put into action.policies will be put into action.

Specifically describe the action to be taken.Specifically describe the action to be taken.

Assign responsibility to the appropriate Assign responsibility to the appropriate municipal board, organization, or staff person.municipal board, organization, or staff person.

Establish a schedule and priorities for carrying Establish a schedule and priorities for carrying out the action.out the action.

Estimate the cost, if any, and source of funds to Estimate the cost, if any, and source of funds to carry out the action.carry out the action.

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It all starts coming together into a It all starts coming together into a Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Plan

Future Land Use PlanFuture Land Use Plan

Capital Investment ProgramCapital Investment Program

Implementation PlanImplementation Plan

(usually covers a ten-year planning period)

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Future Land Use PlanFuture Land Use Plan

Designates growth areas where most Designates growth areas where most development is directeddevelopment is directed

Designates rural areas to enhance and Designates rural areas to enhance and protect rural usesprotect rural uses

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Capital Investment ProgramCapital Investment Program (CInP) (CInP)

How much will it cost to implement necessary How much will it cost to implement necessary capital improvements?capital improvements?

How will you pay for what needs to be done? How will you pay for what needs to be done?

Must cover the 10 year period that follows the Must cover the 10 year period that follows the adoption of the plan.adoption of the plan.

Make sure you include all the major growth-related capital Make sure you include all the major growth-related capital needs identified in your plan.needs identified in your plan.

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Implementation PlanImplementation Plan

Who, What, When, How?Who, What, When, How?

List each strategy, its overall priority, who is List each strategy, its overall priority, who is responsible, estimated cost and the responsible, estimated cost and the

timeframe for accomplishment.timeframe for accomplishment.

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SPO On-LineSPO On-Line

Links to the Growth Management Act and Links to the Growth Management Act and Comprehensive Plan Review Criteria RuleComprehensive Plan Review Criteria Rule

Submission forms and requirements for Submission forms and requirements for submitting plans to SPO reviewsubmitting plans to SPO review

Technical Assistance documents Technical Assistance documents Community Planning Grant Program Community Planning Grant Program

Statement for 2007 Grant Round Statement for 2007 Grant Round

http://www.maine.gov/spo/landuse/http://www.maine.gov/spo/landuse/

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Updating Your Comprehensive Plan – 50 Recommendations for Making Plan

Updates More Effective

SPO Data Packet June 2007

Getting Updated !Getting Updated !

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Thoughts on Timing…Thoughts on Timing…

It is not dictated in the law or rule that a It is not dictated in the law or rule that a community must submit its plan for review community must submit its plan for review by SPO.by SPO.

We recommend submitting well before the We recommend submitting well before the plan’s final public hearing, to incorporate plan’s final public hearing, to incorporate any necessary changes for consistency any necessary changes for consistency prior to the plan’s adoption.prior to the plan’s adoption.

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Proposed changes to SPO’s Plan Proposed changes to SPO’s Plan Review ProcessReview Process

Prompt questions to guide analysis of key issues for each Prompt questions to guide analysis of key issues for each inventory topic.inventory topic.

Specific minimum data requirements for trends analysis.Specific minimum data requirements for trends analysis.

Annotated version of rule with direct links to data, tools, and Annotated version of rule with direct links to data, tools, and technical resourcestechnical resources

Explicit policies and strategies to meet consistency Explicit policies and strategies to meet consistency requirements (with allowances for substitutions)requirements (with allowances for substitutions)

State focus on the Future Land Use Plan State focus on the Future Land Use Plan

Self-assessment check list will be part of the submission for Self-assessment check list will be part of the submission for reviewreview

http://www.spo-comp-plan-rules.com/spo/http://www.spo-comp-plan-rules.com/spo/

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It’s Not EasyIt’s Not Easy

There are inherent conflicts in Planning –There are inherent conflicts in Planning – Growth vs. no growthGrowth vs. no growth Environmental protection vs. economic Environmental protection vs. economic

developmentdevelopment

Deciding the best course for your town Deciding the best course for your town involves making some tough choices.involves making some tough choices.

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We the People…We the People…

Be creative about public participation Be creative about public participation throughout the process…throughout the process…

Ask other towns with successful plans how Ask other towns with successful plans how they involved townspeople. they involved townspeople.

The better people understand the plan and The better people understand the plan and what it means to them and to their children, what it means to them and to their children, the more likely they will vote for it. the more likely they will vote for it.

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Southern Maine Regional Planning Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission -- experience to share.Commission -- experience to share.

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Local government cannot control Local government cannot control market forces but can influence market forces but can influence

them.them.

Steps can be taken to support and Steps can be taken to support and retain important community values retain important community values

and create a smarter, more and create a smarter, more sustainable pattern of growth.sustainable pattern of growth.

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YOU HAVE A CHOICE!YOU HAVE A CHOICE!

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Questions?Contact Information:SPO Land Use TeamMaine State Planning Office 38 State House Station, 184 State St. Augusta, ME 04333

phone: (207) 287-3261, (800) 662-4545

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Contact InformationContact Information

Ruta Dzenis, Senior PlannerRuta Dzenis, Senior Planner

SPO Land Use TeamSPO Land Use Team

(207) 287 – 2851 (207) 287 – 2851 rutaruta..dzenisdzenis@@mainemaine..govgov

SPO website:SPO website:

http://www.maine.gov/spo/http://www.maine.gov/spo/SPO Comprehensive Plan Rulemaking website: SPO Comprehensive Plan Rulemaking website:

http://www.spo-comp-plan-rules.com/spohttp://www.spo-comp-plan-rules.com/spo