The Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) was tasked with convening a stakeholder group to support rulemaking related to the growth management law, which governs the comprehensive planning process in Maine municipalities. Pursuant to P.L. 2025, chapter 393, this stakeholder group provided input on the content of the rules necessary to implement Title 30-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2: Growth Management Programs, and Title 5, Chapter 310-B, Subchapter 4: Municipal Planning Assistance, as amended.
Final Report and Recommendations May 2026
Read the Growth Management Law Rulemaking Stakeholder Group Final Report and Recommendations.
The focus groups were held as follows:
- Meeting #1 - Monday, Dec 8, 2025, 1:00-3:00 pm - View Growth Management Program Stakeholder Group Public Notice, Agenda #1, and Summary #1.
- Meeting #2 - Friday, Jan 16, 2026, 1:00-3:00 pm - View Agenda #2 and Summary #2.
- Meeting #3 - Friday, Feb 6, 2026, 1:30-3:30 pm - View Agenda #3 and Summary #3.
- Meeting #4 - Friday, March 6, 2026, 1:30-3:30 pm - View Agenda #4 and Summary #4.
- Meeting #5 - Friday April 17, 2026, 10:00 am-1:00 pm - View Agenda #5 and Summary #5.
- Meeting #6 - Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm - View Agenda #6.
- Stakeholder Group Membership
The stakeholder group listed below has been appointed by MOCA and blends a broad range of professional backgrounds as well as representatives of diverse geographic locations from around the state.
- Rep. Traci Gere – Representative, House District 134
- Kara Wilbur – Dooryard, Developer and Planner
- Jennie Franceschi – Westbrook, Director of Planning and Code Enforcement
- Ben Smith - North Star Planning, Owner
- Averi Varney - Hancock County Planning Commission, Director
- Jay Kamm - Northern Maine Development Commission, Senior Planner
- Michael Martone - Newcastle and Damariscotta, Town Planner
- Dayea Shim - GrowSmart Maine, Planner
- Dan Black – LB Development Partners, Partner
- Steven McDermott – Individual experienced with comp planning and housing
- Tanya Emery - Maine Municipal Association, Advocacy Manager
- Sophia Wilson – Freeport, Town Manager
- Matt Markot – Loon Echo Land Trust, Executive Director
- Amy Tchao – Drummond Woodsum, Leader, Municipal Law Practice Group
- Jen Ladd – Toole Design, Engineering Manager
Growth Management Program Survey Results 2024
The Growth Management Program Survey results have been posted at https://arcg.is/1W0Gnq.
The Municipal Planning Assistance Program scheduled three virtual focus group meetings to share the Maine Growth Management Program survey results. Because of the depth of information we received from survey respondents, each focus group covered different aspects of the survey. The focus groups were held as follows:
- Focus Group #1 – November 8 (noon-2:00 pm) – Improve the preparation of Comprehensive Plans and the State Review Process. Presentation available as a recording or PDF: Focus Group #1.
- Focus Group #2 – November 13 (4:00-6:00 pm) – Support Implementation of Comprehensive Plans. Presentation available as a recording or PDF: Focus Group #2.
- Focus Group #3 – November 14 (noon-2:00 pm) – Prioritize the most important Technical Assistance Resources to prepare Comprehensive Plans. Presentation available as a recording or PDF: Focus Group #3.
Growth Management Program Evaluation - 2023
The quadrennial Growth Management Program Evaluation was presented to the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in 2024. The Growth Management Law (MRS 30-A Sec. 4331) requires an evaluation of the state, regional and local efforts to achieve the purposes and goals of the law. This report provides that evaluation by looking at three criteria: the location of growth, the level of local and regional planning, and the state’s financial commitment to growth management. Growth Management Program Evaluation - 2023.