Land Use Review Board asks Senate panel to fund staff, digital intake and keep ARPA coordinators as it implements Act 181

The Land Use Review Board told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 25 that it needs additional and continued funding to implement Act 181 and manage a new, tiered system for land-use jurisdiction.

The board, which officials said was seated Jan. 27 and replaces the Natural Resources Board, asked the committee to fund a permanent executive director position that is included in the governor's recommended budget and to continue two ARPA-funded district coordinator positions that help issue jurisdictional opinions. "We have 31 permanent positions and three ARPA positions," said Rachel Mondo, business director for the Land Use Review Board. "The district coordinators are the ones that issue those opinions and help people through those processes."

Nut graf: The request is presented as necessary to stand up the board's responsibilities under Act 181 — notably creating tier 1/2/3 jurisdictional maps, reviewing regional future land-use maps and administering a new application process for communities seeking exemptions. Without additional staffing and digital tools, board…