Who is LURC?

With mass development plans and wind power projects being decided on, the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission has been in the news a lot lately. Here is their “bio,” from the State’s website.

The Maine Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC or the Commission) was created by the Maine Legislature in 1971 to serve as the planning and zoning authority for the state’s townships, plantations and unorganized areas. The Commission has land use regulatory jurisdiction over these areas because they have no form of local government to administer land use controls, or they have chosen not to administer land use controls at the local level.

The Commission was established primarily in response to a recreational building and land development boom in these areas during the late 1960’s. Its purpose is to extend the principles of planning and zoning; to preserve public health, safety, and welfare; to encourage the well-planned, multiple use of natural resources; to promote orderly development; and to protect natural and ecological values.

The responsibility of guiding land use in these areas represents a unique challenge. The jurisdiction stretches over half the state, encompassing more than 10.4 million acres and the largest contiguous undeveloped area in the Northeast. This is a diverse area that includes several coastal islands and stretches from the downeast area across the western mountains and up to the Canadian border. While the area has an extensive private land management road network, it has few public roads and is sparsely populated. Most development is concentrated along the fringe of the jurisdiction, adjacent to more populous areas where services are more accessible.

Much of this area may seem like wilderness compared to most of the rest of the Northeast, but agricultural, forestry, and recreational activities clearly identify the region as a hardworking resource vital to the overall economy of the State. Residents and visitors alike place a premium on the unique natural values they find here.

- Maine.gov

Group seeking easment to protect Mitchell Field

In an effort to manage the future use of Mitchell Field in Harpswell, a group of residents is offering the town $2 million in exchange for a conservation easement. The proposed easement is designed around a recently approved Mitchell Field Master Plan meant to preserve most of the 118-acre site, while allowing some business use.

Members of the Harpswell Coastal Coalition are scheduled to present their plan to the Board of Selectmen this week. Coalition members want the selectmen to place the $2 million offer before residents at Harpswell’s annual town meeting in March.

If voters approve the offer, uses such as a liquefied natural gas plant would not be allowed on the oceanfront property. Marine business uses — such as boatbuilding — would be permitted.

- PressHerald

BNAS redevelopment group moves

The Press Herald reports on the group tasked to promote development at the Brunswick Naval Air Station.

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority has replaced Brunswick and Topsham’s local redevelopment authorities, which last month approved the master reuse plans for the 3,200-acre air station and the 75-acre Topsham Annex.

The authority must implement both reuse plans, taking responsibility for finding tenants to use the buildings and land.

Brunswick’s plan envisions a range of uses, from a resort hotel and golf course, to a college campus, hiking trails, aviation maintenance, stores and office space.

Benefits of Slow Growth

Maine’s population growth over the past year was only .2%. Gino Bona finds three reasons that is not all bad:

1. Our schools aren’t in crisis;

2. We have time to lay out plans;

3. Employers can be picky when hiring

OK, so 0.2% doesn’t sound like anything to blog home about. But I believe this is good news for the Pine Tree State.

Got Land?

The Land for Maine’s Future Board is seeking proposals for land conservation projects to assist.

“We’re really looking for those wonderful, special places in Maine, whether they be farmland, a hiking trail, a park really anything that supports the quality of life in Maine through the protection of undeveloped land,” Glidden said. – Blethen MNS

The Land for Maine’s Future Program was created in 1987 in response to concerns over the loss of critical natural areas and wildlife habitat along with traditional access to undeveloped lands for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

To date, the Land for Maine’s Future Program has funded the protection of more than 445,000 acres of Maine’s best natural areas, farms, and recreation areas.

The Program also seeks to protect public access to water for fishing, boating, and swimming. Working with other state agencies, numerous local governments and charitable nonprofit groups, the Land for Maine’s Future Board adheres to a “willing seller only” policy.

Funding for these new projects will come from a $17 million bond issue approved by the Maine Legislature and Maine voters in 2007. – Morning Sentinel

Regional planning projects eyed

The Press Herald reports on how $50 million in regional planning money may be spent.

A regional planning committee has drafted a list of 10 projects, with the goal of winnowing the list down to two or three projects to send to the federal government in 2009. Some of the top projects include adding additional lanes on I-295 in Portland and replacing the Veterans Bridge

This is the first time that the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Committee – which represents 15 municipalities between Biddeford and Freeport – has gone after these kind of funds, which are earmarks in the federal government’s five-year transportation spending plan.