The task force's members include legislators, developers, business leaders, real estate agents, town officials, state planners and environmentalists. The group has been meeting since August, and it appears to be converging on some specific proposals that may lead to a bill in the next legislative session. Some of the proposals call for fundamental changes that may take more study before they are politically acceptable, said Rep. David Tobin, R-Windham, one of the three legislators on the task force. He said the task force represents such a broad range of interests that any proposal that wins unanimous approval will also garner support in the Legislature. One of the most radical ideas is to turn the Growth Management Act upside down and reward towns for the results of good planning.
Towns creating comprehensive plans now struggle to meet specific and complicated state rules.
Once they finish their plans, towns often fail to pass ordinances to put their plans into effect. And the state has failed to give towns financial help to build the infrastructure needed to make plans work, such as sewer and water lines, Herman said. Herman, working with State Planning Director Evan Richert, has developed a proposal to revamp the Growth Management Act to give towns complete freedom in developing their plans. Towns that are successful would be rewarded with more state funds for infrastructure improvements. Also, the proposal would give even more money to towns that create plans with neighboring towns, and urban and rural towns that work together would get bonus funds.