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Land Use and Planning Commission votes to seek funding for contracted assistance to update comprehensive plan
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Summary
The Land Use and Planning Commission voted unanimously to pursue Option 2: seek funding for contracted assistance to update the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUF). Staff outlined progress since the 2010 plan, permitting trends, and a three‑phase update framework emphasizing stakeholder outreach and SMART goals.
The Land Use and Planning Commission voted unanimously to move forward with a funded, contractor‑assisted update of its Comprehensive Land Use Plan, staff announced at the end of a discussion on process and priorities.
Planning Manager Ben Godsoe and Senior Planner Megan Lam presented a staff memo and table summarizing progress since the CLUF’s last adoption in 2010. Godsoe described the CLUF as “an important planning document for the commission” and urged commissioners to consider whether the 14‑year‑old plan remains forward‑facing. Lam reviewed statewide trends affecting planning, including stronger climate extremes and housing demand, and said the commission approved 6,162 building permits and 887 development permits since 2010; staff also reported 1,810 new dwelling permits between 2010 and 2023, with a 2021 peak and county concentrations led by Franklin County (about 420 new dwelling permits).
Staff framed the update as a three‑phase process: a pre‑planning phase to set guiding principles, collect and publish updated data, and identify stakeholders; a CLUF update phase that could use a steering committee and topic subgroups; and a formal adoption phase that includes public hearings, agency review and two legislative sessions under current statute. Godsoe noted statutory context including Title 12 Section 685C and changes under LD 1798 that affect commission scope and the adoption path.
Commission discussion centered on process design and staff capacity. Several commissioners said they preferred a model that would front‑load stakeholder work and use contracted facilitation so planning staff could continue core rulemaking. One commissioner moved to “proceed with Option 2,” defined by staff as identifying and requesting funding for contracted assistance for all or portions of a CLUF update; the motion was seconded.
Public commenters supported a balanced, engaged process. Patrick Stroup, Executive Director of the Maine Forest Products Council, urged the commission to engage landowners to understand ownership changes and oncoming pressures and offered the council’s support. Eliza Townsend, Maine Conservation Policy Director for the Appalachian Mountain Club, said she supported Option 2 and flagged wildlife habitat, climate and biodiversity as topics to include; she also said some attendees were surprised public comments were allowed without prior notice.
The commission then took a roll‑call vote. Harry Ellsworth, Owen Billings, Peter Frey, Lee Smith, Tom Dubois, Gwen Dalton, Leo Trudell and Everett Worcester were recorded voting "aye," and the presiding commissioner stated they would also “vote aye as well.” The motion carried unanimously.
What the motion directs next: staff will begin targeted outreach during the pre‑planning phase (to identify primary stakeholder groups and priority issues) while pursuing funding options, including grants and budgeting avenues, to contract for facilitation and technical support. The commission did not adopt specific policy language or rule changes at this meeting; it directed staff to seek funding and return with a funded process for the CLUF update.
Votes at a glance • Motion: Proceed with Option 2 — identify and request funding for contracted assistance for all or portions of a CLUF update process. Mover: Unidentified commissioner (motion recorded at the meeting). Second: Unidentified commissioner. Outcome: approved (unanimous).
Next steps Staff will undertake early targeted outreach to landowner groups, conservation organizations and regional stakeholders and will report back to the commission on funding prospects and a proposed steering‑committee model and timeline. The adoption process, under current statute and post‑LD 1798 practice, will still require multiple agency reviews and two legislative sessions before final adoption.
(Reporting based on Land Use and Planning Commission presentation and discussion; no legislation or new rule language was adopted during this meeting.)