An Act To Clarify Land Planning in the Unorganized and Deorganized Townships of the State February 1, 2007
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0472
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: MILLS
Amends: 12 MRSA §685-C

Legislative Document 
No. 472 
S.P.159 
An Act To Clarify Land Planning in the Unorganized and 
Deorganized Townships of the State 
February 1, 2007 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator MILLS of Somerset. 
Printed 011 re<;:ycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §685-C, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1977, c. 694, §233, is 
further amended to read: 
1. 
Comprehensive land use plan. Not later than January 1, 1975 the The 
commission shall adopt an official comprehensive land use plan for the unorganized and 
deorganized townships of the State. 
Such plan shall guiae the The commission must use the plan as a guide in developing 
specific land use standards and delineating district boundaries and guiding development 
and generally fulfilling the purposes of this chapter. 
The plan may consist of maps, data and statements of present and prospective resource 
uses wftieh that generally delineate the proper use of resources, and recommendations for 
its implementation. 
The commission ~ 
shall hold public hearings to collect information from residents and 
property owners of the jurisdiction and other interested parties to be used in establishing 
the land use guidance plan. The public hearings will must be conducted according to 
commission rules adopted in accordance with procedures for the establishment of rules 
ana regulatiofts pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II 2-A. 
The commission may, on its own motion or petition of any state agency or regional 
planning commission, hold such other hearings as it may deem the commission considers 
necessary from time to time for the purpose of obtaining information helpful in the 
determination of its policies, the carrying out of its duties, or the formulation of its land 
use standards or rules ftfla regulations. 
The commission shaJ.l may not adopt He !! plan or portion of a plan, unless: 
A. 
The tentative plan has been submitted to each regional planning commission and 
other 
appropriate 
agencies, 
which 
shall 
forward 
their 
comments 
and 
recommendations, if any, to the commission within 30 days,and~ 
B. 
The tentative plan has been submitted to the State Planning Office, pursuant to 
Title 5, section 3305, subsection 1, paragraph G, which shall forward its comments 
and recommendations, if any, to the commission within 30 days,.and~ 
C. 
The commission has considered all such comments7 and adopted the official land 
use plan; and 
D. The commission has submitted the plan to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over conservation matters for the committee's 
approval. 
If the committee approves the plan, it must submit the plan to the 
Legislature for approval. If the Legislature approves the plan, it must submit the plan 
to the Governor. 
Upon adoption of the offisial land use plan by the commission, it shall submit the plan to 
the GO'/emor for approval. The Governor shall approve or disapprove the plan, plans or 
any portion of a plan within 30 days of receipt. If the Governor fails to act, the plan shall 
I 
be .lli deemed approved. This subsection sflall also apply applies to any alteration in the 
comprehensive plan. 
SUMMARY 
This bill clarifies and amends the process by which the Maine Land Use Regulation 
Commission adopts a comprehensive land use plan for the unorganized and deorganized 
townships of the State.