The Development Ready Advisory Committee (DRAC), established within the Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA), helps Maine communities plan for and achieve sustainable, well-coordinated development.
DRAC brings together expertise from state, regional, and local partners to develop and share best practices in infrastructure, land use, housing, economic development, conservation, and historic preservation. The committee also provides guidance and coordination to help municipalities successfully navigate each stage of the community development process.
DRAC was formed in response to a common challenge across Maine: communities often face difficulty navigating complex state programs and systems. The committee works to better align state programs, strengthen consistency across agencies, and make resources more accessible for municipalities.
Download the DRAC Purpose & Overview (PDF) to learn more about the committee.
Background & Statutory History
- 2021: DRAC was initially created under the statute governing the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority (Title 30-A §5161, PL 2021, c. 664) to develop best practices for community redevelopment.
- 2025: The statute was revised and relocated to Title 5 §3235 (PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12), expanding the committee’s scope and transferring primary oversight to the Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA).
The revised statute broadens DRAC’s charge to include infrastructure, land use, housing, economic development, conservation, and historic preservation. This reflects a shift toward a more comprehensive municipal capacity-building and cross-agency coordination role.
Download the DRAC Enabling Language (PDF) to learn more.
Upcoming Meetings
There are currently no scheduled meetings.
Past Meetings
- March 23, 2026, 1-3 p.m. Marquardt Building, Room 332 (32 Blossom Lane, Augusta) and via Teams
Membership
The committee includes senior representatives from key state agencies, along with leaders from municipal, regional, housing, conservation, civil rights, and economic development sectors, ensuring broad cross-sector representation. See the list below for DRAC-appointed members. Working groups will be established to advance priority areas and may engage additional subject-matter experts and partners to support core objectives.
Committee Seat | Appointed Member | Term |
|---|---|---|
Director, Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) | Samantha Horn (Chair), Director, Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) | Perpetual |
Executive director of the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority, or the executive director's designee | Tuck O'Brien, Executive Director, Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority | Perpetual
|
Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee | Deborah Johnson, Director, Office of Community Development | Perpetual
|
Commissioner of Transportation (or designee) | Joyce Taylor, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Transportation | Perpetual
|
Commissioner of Environmental Protection (or designee) | Melanie Loyzim, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection | Perpetual
|
Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (or designee) | Judy East, Director, Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning, DACF | Perpetual
|
Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission (or designee) | Mike D. Johnson, Historic Preservation Coordinator, Maine Historic Preservation Commission | Perpetual
|
Director of the Maine State Housing Authority (or designee) | Daniel Brennan, Director, Maine State Housing Authority | Perpetual
|
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (or designee) | Bethany Atkins, Habitat Section Supervisor, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife | Perpetual
|
Three representatives of municipalities in this State | Kevin Sutherland, Town Manager, Town of Newcastle | 2 years |
| Luke Dyer, Town Manager, Town of Van Buren | 1 year | |
| Matt Nazar, Director of Development Service, City of Augusta | 3 years | |
Five representatives from the regional councils selected for geographic diversity and subject matter expertise | Mat Edy, Executive Director, Midcoast Council of Governments | 1 year |
| Kristina Egan, Executive Director, Greater Portland Council of Governments | 2 years | |
| Amy Landry, Executive Director, Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments | 3 years | |
| Bob Clark, Executive Director, Northern Maine Development Commission | 2 years | |
| Joel Greenwood, Executive Director, Kennebec Valley Council of Governments | 3 years | |
A representative of an organization that develops or funds affordable housing projects | Robyn Wardell, Chief Program Officer, Genesis Fund | 1 year |
A representative of a local or statewide organization promoting civil rights that has racial justice or racial equity as its primary mission | Andrea Steward, Housing Policy Advocate, Maine Equal Justice (MEJ) | 1 year |
A representative of an organization that advocates for conservation of the natural resources of this State | Jeremy Gabrielson, Director of Conservation Planning, Maine Coast Heritage Trust | 2 years |
A representative of a regional or statewide economic development organization. | Charles Rudelitch, Executive Director, Sunrise County Economic Council | 3 years |
Contact
- Samantha Horn, Director, Maine Office of Community Affairs (DRAC Chair), Samantha.Horn@maine.gov
- Marina Tomer, Regional Coordinator Program Manager, State Resilience Office, MOCA (DRAC Clerk), Marina.Tomer@maine.gov