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Land Use Planning


Publications

The State Planning Office offers several of its publications in PDF format for downloading. In addition, you may order publications directly from SPO printing out and returning the SPO Land Use Publication Ordering Form (PDF 176KB).


Planning Guides

  • Comprehensive Planning: A Manual for Maine for Maine Communities 2005 Edition (PDF low resolution, 2.2MB) (PDF medium resolution for Acrobat Reader 6.0 and higher, 2.9MB) (PDF high resolution, 9.8MB): This manual is written for citizen planners: the members of a comprehensive planning committee, boards of selectmen, or planning boards charged with preparing a comprehensive plan, and the many parties of interest who may be participating or advising in the process. It is part “how-to,” part suggestions for policy, and part tool box. Each of its 19 chapters addresses a requirement of the Growth Management Program. The 19 chapters are connected to each other and, together, present a complete picture of a comprehensive land use plan. But the manual is designed so that different members of a planning or advisory committee can concentrate on one chapter at a time; the chapters can even be split out among the members of a committee for individual review.

  • GATEWAY 1; Performance Standards for Large Scale Developments (PDF 1.8MB)

  • Low Impact Development Manual (PDF 2.1MB). The final draft of the Low Impact Development Guidance Manual for Maine Communities has been completed.  The new guidance document is intended to help communities bring local ordinances in sync with the new stormwater and phosphorus control review requirements, and to help communities address existing gaps in development permitting reviews for water quality impacts.

Model Ordinances

Technical Assistance Bulletins

Laws, Rules and Policies Relevant to Land Use Planning

Reports to the Legislature and Governor

Sprawl, Land Use, Smart Growth, and Great American Neighborhoods: Additional SPO Publications and Reports

Land Use Team Forms