Judy East Named Maine Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning Director, Stacie Beyer Becomes Land Use Planning Commission Acting Executive Director

November 3, 2021

For more information contact: Jim Britt at: Jim.Britt@maine.gov

AUGUSTA - Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal recently announced Judith (Judy) East as the department's Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning Director. East was most recently the department's Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) Executive Director. LUPC Planning Manager, Stacie Beyer, was selected to succeed East as LUPC Executive Director in an acting capacity. Both positions took effect on November 1, 2021.

"Judy and Stacie possess excellent skill-sets and bring extensive knowledge to their new roles," commented Commissioner Beal. "They will undoubtedly serve the bureau, its programs, and our department as a whole very well."

East joined LUPC in 2019, coming from the Washington County Council of Governments, where she dedicated 17 years and concluded her tenure as Executive Director. Before that, she worked with the State Planning Office as a Senior Planner and with The Nature Conservancy, East Hampton, NY, as Director of Land Protection. She has been engaged in land use planning since earning her M.Sc. Planning degree from the University of British Columbia's School of Community and Regional Planning. She also holds a B.Sc. Biology Specialist degree (Freshwater Ecology) from the University of Toronto.

East earned numerous recognitions, including Plan of the Year from Maine Association of Planners (Bold Coast Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan); Project of the Year from the American Planning Association's Northern New England Chapter (Online GIS Mapping to Assist Rural Washington County in Planning for the Future and Preparing for Impacts of Climate Change with the University of Maine at Machias GIS Service Center). East's previous volunteer experiences include service on statewide and regional boards and commissions, including St Croix, International Waterway Commission, Maine Sea Grant Policy Advisory Committee, Smart Growth Maine, and others. She is currently an Olympia's Leaders Advisor with Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute.

Beyer joined LUPC in 2014, where she has served as a Senior Planner and the Chief Planner. Before joining the LUPC, she was with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's Land Bureau for 22 years, where she was an Environmental Specialist II and III. Beyer also worked as a Corporate Environmental Manager at Interface Inc. and True Textiles, Inc. Beyer is a member of the New England Chapter of the American Planning Association, Maine Section (Maine Association of Planners, MAP) and serves on MAP's Executive Board. She holds a Wildlife Biology degree from the University of Maine Orono.

For LUPC, Beyer has served as Lead Planner for Natural Resource Protection Act consistency and FEMA coordination, assisted with the Washington County Community Guided Planning and Zoning project, and provided planning support for land use permitting activities in LUPC's Downeast Region service area. She was instrumental in the completion of a major review and revision of the LUPC's subdivision rules.

About LUPC

The LUPC is responsible for serving the unorganized and deorganized areas of Maine and helping guide land use across its 10.4 million acres, the largest contiguous undeveloped area in the northeast. The LUPC serves as the planning and zoning authority for the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State, including townships and plantations. These areas either have no local government or have chosen not to administer land use controls at the local level. Along with carrying out its planning and zoning responsibilities, the LUPC issues permits for smaller development projects, such as home construction and camp renovations. For larger development projects requiring Department of Environmental Protection review under the Site Location of Development Law, the LUPC certifies that proposed land uses are allowed and that proposed development activities comply with applicable LUPC land use standards. The Legislature created the Commission to extend principles of sound planning, zoning, and development to the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State. To learn more visit the LUPC website.

Supporting documents

Judy East

Stacie Beyer