1. Review authority. The Governor may designate a regional council as the authorized agency to receive, review and comment on federal projects and plans affecting regional planning, coordination and development, those significant local and state projects that exceed $200,000 in total cost and those state projects involving more than one municipality.
A. When 2 or more contiguous regional councils are affected, and the Department of Economic and Community Development determines that:
(1) A project clearly concerns the jurisdictional area of only one regional council, that council is the authorized review agency; or
(2) A project clearly concerns the jurisdictional area of 2 or more councils, joint receipt and review and comment is required. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. When the Department of Economic and Community Development determines that a project clearly concerns both incorporated and unincorporated areas within a district, joint receipt and review and comment by the affected regional council or councils and the Maine Land Use Planning Commission is required. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 682, §38 (REV).]
C. All regional planning councils must complete the review under this subsection within 30 days after receiving the project information unless the requesting agency agrees to extend this period. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 682, §38 (REV).]
2. Planning review of federal program grant application. All applications for federal program grants affecting regional planning, coordination and development, including programs under Section 204 of the United States Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966, Public Law 89-754, and the United States Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968, Public Law 90-577, and the objectives set forth in the United States Office of Management and Budget Circular A-95, shall be submitted to the regional council for review and comment. Subsection 5 applies to these grant applications.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
3. Planning review of state agency long-term plans. Each state department, commission, board or agency shall submit to the regional council, for review and comment, all long-term comprehensive plans that will have a significant regional effect within the council's jurisdiction. The regional council shall complete its review within 30 days after receiving the long-term comprehensive plan. When 2 or more regional councils coexist within a district, subsection 1 applies.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
4. Planning review of local government and special district plans and programs. Each municipality, watershed district and soil conservation district, all or part of which lies within the jurisdictional area of the regional council, shall submit to the council, for comment and recommendation, its long-term comprehensive plans or any matter which in the council's judgment has a substantial effect on regional development, including, but not limited to, plans for land use.
A. No action may be taken to institute any such plan or part of a plan until 30 days after all the relevant information has been submitted to the regional council for review and comment. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. The council shall notify each municipality or special district, which may be affected by the plans, of:
(1) The general nature of the plan;
(2) The date of submission; and
(3) The identity of the unit submitting the plans. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
C. The council may conduct a hearing on the submitted plans if it considers the hearing to be in the best interest of the region. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
5. Review of applications for state-aid programs. Within each planning and development district or subdistrict in which a regional council has been organized, the governing body of each governmental unit and special district shall submit to the regional council for review any applications to state agencies for loans or grants-in-aid before the application is made. The regional council shall determine whether or not the proposed application is properly coordinated with other existing or proposed projects within the district, as well as any district plans or policies where they exist. In making this determination, the council shall inform both the applicant agency and the granting authority of its opinion within 30 days.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
6. Referral of proposals for interlocal agreements or formation of special purpose districts. Before any 2 or more municipalities may join together through an interlocal agreement or the formation of a special purpose district under the Maine Revised Statutes or any special act for purposes of jointly developing or operating physical facilities and services for the performance of municipal or regional functions, the municipalities shall submit the proposal to the regional council or councils within whose areas of jurisdiction the municipalities are located. The council or councils, within 30 days, shall render an advisory report of the regional significance of the proposal, unless the referring municipalities agree to extend this period.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
7. Notice to regional council to establish or change land use zones. When a municipality proposes to establish or change a land use zone or any regulation affecting the use of a zone, any portion of which is within 500 feet of the boundary of another municipality located within the jurisdiction of a regional council, the municipality shall give written notice to the council of its public hearing to be held in relation to that establishment or change. The council shall study the proposal and shall report its findings and recommendations to the municipality at or before the public hearing. Failure to submit the council's advisory report at or before the hearing constitutes approval.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
8. Local assistance. Regional councils may provide local assistance as provided in this subsection.
A. The council may make recommendations on the basis of its plans and studies to local planning boards or to the municipal officers of any member and to any county, state or federal authorities. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. A municipal planning board may use any part of the regional planning studies which pertain to the municipality in its own comprehensive plan. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
C. The council may assist any of its members in solving a local planning problem. All or part of the cost of local assistance may be paid by any of its members. [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
9. Comprehensive plans to comply with standards. Any comprehensive plans developed pursuant to this subchapter shall comply with the provisions of subpart 6‑A.
[PL 1989, c. 878, Pt. C, §46 (NEW).]
