AUGUSTA - A bill sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, that would establish the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority, goes into effect today, Monday, August 8.
LD 1694 will create the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority, which will help communities bring abandoned, environmentally compromised and/or functionally obsolete properties into productive use by leveraging federal and technical resources. Municipalities will work with the land bank to determine the best use for the distressed property, often resulting in housing development or the creation of parks. The land bank will also provide technical assistance to communities as they explore their options, both in the form of best practices guidelines developed by a statewide Development Ready Committee and through access to the land bank's staff to address barriers to the projects. The bill was also recognized by the Maine Association of Planners as the Project of the Year for "legislative initiative that is of unusually high merit and makes a difference in the lives of the people affected."
"I'm thankful that this bill received bipartisan support among my colleagues in the Legislature," said Sachs. "LD 1694 presents a solution to a statewide problem how to help communities deal with compromised and abandoned properties and address issues such as our housing crisis. These properties, due to title, tax or lien complications, environmental issues, functional obsolescence or other factors, are prohibitive to private investment or municipal redevelopment. Land banks are proven models to redevelop properties that cannot be resolved by other means. LD 1694 also provides needed technical support to municipalities to determine what path works best for them."
Sachs, who is serving her first term in the Maine House of Representatives, represents Freeport and part of Pownal. She serves on the Legislature's Taxation Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.
Contact:
Katie Walsh [Sachs], c. 776-2122