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Municipal Comprehensive Planning

Municipal Comprehensive Planning. Planning is: A) A lot of work and B) Often politically unpopular, so Why Bother?. Thinking ahead and imagining how current development patterns and land use regulations (or lack thereof) will change your community over time is important to many people.

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Municipal Comprehensive Planning

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  1. Municipal Comprehensive Planning Planning is: A) A lot of work and B) Often politically unpopular, so Why Bother?

  2. Thinking ahead and imagining how current development patterns and land use regulations (or lack thereof) will change your community over time is important to many people.

  3. A Comprehensive Plan is a blueprint for your community • Inventories and Analyses of the existing conditions in your town- its people and its resources • Policies to address issues raised in the analyses • Strategies to implement the plan • Regional coordination to manage shared resources • An implementation program to follow through

  4. The Planning and Land Use Regulation Act Title 30-A Chapter 187. Also known as the Growth Management Act, this is the state law that guides the municipal comprehensive planning process.

  5. To encourage orderly growth and development in appropriate areas of each community, while protecting the State's rural character, making efficient use of public services and preventing development sprawl; To plan for, finance and develop an efficient system of public facilities and services to accommodate anticipated growth and economic development; To promote an economic climate which increases job opportunities and overall economic well-being; 10 State Goals

  6. Affordable housing; • Water resources; • Critical natural resources; • Marine resources; • Agricultural and forest resources; • Historic and archeological resources; and • Outdoor recreation

  7. Are You Required to Have a Plan? • State LAW (not SPO) requires towns with zoning, growth caps, or impact fees to have a comprehensive plan consistent with the Growth Management Act.

  8. However, don’t forget ..your zoning, building/growth cap, or impact fee ordinance must be consistent with your Comprehensive Plan. Or you could be in trouble with a Judge!

  9. Other Good Reasons to Plan • Grant preference points • Growth-related state capital investments • It makes sense to have a “business plan” for your town. • It is a good idea to think about the future!

  10. So Where Do We Start? Step 1 - Visioning

  11. Visioning Sounds new age, but is really just a fancy way of asking people to get together and talk about the future. Imagine for a moment what your community could be at its very best.

  12. Step 2 - Inventory and Analysis What’s meaningful to look at? What trends can we identify? If trends continue, what will be the impact on our community? What issues deserve special attention?

  13. The Law Requires… There are 13 required Inventory topics (in no particular order): (HINT: Use the Rule Checklist!)

  14. 13 Required Inventory Topics • Population • Local Economy • Water Resources • Other Natural Resources • Agriculture & Forestry • Marine Resources • Historic & Archeological Resources • Land Use • Housing • Transportation • Recreation & • Open Space • Public Facilities & Services • Fiscal Capacity

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

  16. Take advantage of Beginning with Habitat March 12: WoolwichMarch 20: Phippsburg http://www.beginningwithhabitat.org/index.html

  17. Step 3. Develop Policies and Strategies If trends continue will it get your community to its vision? • If so, terrific! Easy policies and strategies. • If not, what steps can be taken to change the course?

  18. What is a policy?A policy is a specific statement of principle or course of action. • Policies should be realistic • Policies should be linked to issues that arise from inventories and analyses • To the greatest extent possible, policies should be “directive” and be specific enough that there isn’t confusion about the direction the Town should take  Policies should not contradict each other

  19. What is a strategy?In general, implementation strategies describe how the policies will be put into action. Specifically describe the action to be taken.  Assign responsibility to the appropriate municipal board, organization, or staff person.  Establish a schedule and priorities for carrying out the action.  Estimate the cost, if any, and source of funds to carry out the action.

  20. It all starts coming together into a Comprehensive Plan  Future Land Use Plan  Capital Investment Program  Implementation Plan (usually covers a ten-year planning period)

  21. Future Land Use Plan • Designates growth areas where most development is directed • Designates rural areas to enhance and protect rural uses

  22. Capital Investment Program (CInP) • How much will it cost to implement necessary capital improvements? • How will you pay for what needs to be done? • Must cover the 10 year period that follows the adoption of the plan. Make sure you include all the major growth-related capital needs identified in your plan.

  23. Implementation Plan Who, What, When, How? List each strategy, its overall priority, who is responsible, estimated cost and the timeframe for accomplishment.

  24. SPO On-Line • Links to the Growth Management Act and Comprehensive Plan Review Criteria Rule • Submission forms and requirements for submitting plans to SPO review • Technical Assistance documents • Community Planning Grant Program Statement for 2007 Grant Round http://www.maine.gov/spo/landuse/

  25. Updating Your Comprehensive Plan – 50 Recommendations for Making Plan Updates More Effective SPO Data Packet June 2007 • Getting Updated !

  26. Thoughts on Timing… It is not dictated in the law or rule that a community must submit its plan for review by SPO. We recommend submitting well before the plan’s final public hearing, to incorporate any necessary changes for consistency prior to the plan’s adoption.

  27. Proposed changes to SPO’s Plan Review Process • Prompt questions to guide analysis of key issues for each inventory topic. • Specific minimum data requirements for trends analysis. • Annotated version of rule with direct links to data, tools, and technical resources • Explicit policies and strategies to meet consistency requirements (with allowances for substitutions) • State focus on the Future Land Use Plan • Self-assessment check list will be part of the submission for review http://www.spo-comp-plan-rules.com/spo/

  28. It’s Not Easy There are inherent conflicts in Planning – • Growth vs. no growth • Environmental protection vs. economic development Deciding the best course for your town involves making some tough choices.

  29. We the People… Be creative about public participation throughout the process… Ask other towns with successful plans how they involved townspeople. The better people understand the plan and what it means to them and to their children, the more likely they will vote for it.

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

  31. Local government cannot control market forces but can influence them.Steps can be taken to support and retain important community values and create a smarter, more sustainable pattern of growth.

  32. YOU HAVE A CHOICE!

  33. Questions?Contact Information:SPO Land Use TeamMaine State Planning Office 38 State House Station, 184 State St. Augusta, ME 04333phone: (207) 287-3261, (800) 662-4545

  34. Contact Information Ruta Dzenis, Senior Planner SPO Land Use Team (207) 287 – 2851 ruta.dzenis@maine.gov SPO website: http://www.maine.gov/spo/ SPO Comprehensive Plan Rulemaking website: http://www.spo-comp-plan-rules.com/spo

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