The Development Ready Advisory Committee, referred to in this section as "the committee," is established pursuant to section 12004‑I, subsection 6‑J to develop and maintain best practices for municipalities in infrastructure, land use, housing, economic development, conservation and historic preservation policy. The committee shall provide coordination and subject matter expertise to municipalities to advance the likelihood of success across the community development life cycle. [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
1. Membership. The members of the committee are as follows:
A. The director; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
B. The executive director of the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority under Title 30‑A, chapter 204, or the executive director's designee; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
C. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
D. The Commissioner of Transportation, or the commissioner's designee; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
E. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
F. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, or the commissioner's designee; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
G. The Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, or the director's designee; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
H. The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority, or the director's designee; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
I. The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, or the commissioner's designee; and [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
J. The following members, selected by and serving at the pleasure of the director:
(1) Three representatives of municipalities in this State;
(2) Five representatives from the regional councils selected for geographic diversity and subject matter expertise;
(3) A representative of an organization that develops or funds affordable housing projects;
(4) A representative of a local or statewide organization promoting civil rights that has racial justice or racial equity as its primary mission;
(5) A representative of an organization that advocates for conservation of the natural resources of this State; and
(6) A representative of a regional or statewide economic development organization. [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
2. Duties. The committee shall develop best practices for community development intended to support the following goals:
A. Assisting communities in preparing for sustainable growth and in a way that maximizes financial return for state and local economies, improving quality of life for local residents, addressing housing needs for households of all income levels and advancing environmental protection and transportation goals and specific locally identified priority needs; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
B. Providing technical assistance and coordination to communities to facilitate the adoption of best practices for growth across the following sectors:
(1) Transportation and infrastructure;
(2) Housing creation and preservation;
(3) Economic development;
(4) Conservation; and
(5) Historic preservation. [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
C. Assisting communities in designating priority investment areas in consultation with regional planning organizations, including but not limited to village centers, downtowns and adjacent neighborhoods, rural crossroads, high-impact corridors, working waterfronts and rural farmsteads; [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
D. Ensuring that development efforts are achievable by communities and based on the appropriateness of the location for development and the overall merit of the development project and the community's commitment to the development project based on the community's stated goals; and [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
E. Providing resources and education for municipalities to improve capacity to access funding sources for community development project implementation. [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
3. Chair and officers. The director shall serve as chair of the committee. The members of the committee shall annually elect one of its members as vice-chair and one of its members as secretary to set the agenda and schedule meetings. The committee may elect other officers, create subcommittees and designate their duties.
[PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
4. Voting rights. Each member of the committee has a vote.
[PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
5. Meetings. The committee shall meet at least twice a year.
[PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
6. Quorum. A majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum.
[PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
7. Staff support. The office shall provide staff support to the committee to carry out the purposes of this section.
[PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]
