The Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) has been 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 will provide 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.
- 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
For more information on how the public may engage with the stakeholder process, please see below.
Meeting #1 - Growth Management Program Stakeholder Group Public Notice
Meeting #4 - In reviewing the Inventory, Data, and Analysis, elements of this process, we are asking that interested parties review available sources currently available on our data portal and complete this survey to help us streamline its use.
Meetings #2-5 - Please see the table below:
| Session Name | Date | Location | Session Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting #1 | Monday Dec 8, 2025, 1:00-3:00 pm | Hybrid - Virtual via Teams or in person at the Tyson building, room 322, 25 Tyson Dr. Augusta, Maine 04330 | Agenda Summary |
| Meeting #2 | Friday Jan 16, 2026, 1:00-3:00 pm | Virtual Zoom Meeting – request the meeting link at growthmgmt.moca@maine.gov | Agenda Summary |
| Meeting #3 | Friday Feb 6, 2026, 1:30-3:30 pm | Virtual Zoom Meeting – request the meeting link at growthmgmt.moca@maine.gov | Agenda Summary |
| Meeting #4 | Friday March 6, 2026, 1:30-3:30 pm | Virtual Zoom Meeting – request the meeting link at growthmgmt.moca@maine.gov | Agenda Summary Survey |
| Meeting #5 | Friday April 17, 2026, 10:00 am-1:00 pm | Hybrid - Virtual via Zoom or in person at the DHHS Administrative Building, 109 Capitol Street, Room A/B, Augusta, Maine 04330 | Agenda TBD |
If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact John Brochu at growthmgmt.moca@maine.gov as early as possible prior to the program. Providing advance notice allows us sufficient time to coordinate and fulfill your request. Please note that some accommodations may take several weeks to arrange, so early submission is strongly encouraged.
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 PDF.
- Focus Group #2 – November 13 (4:00-6:00 pm) – Support Implementation of Comprehensive Plans. Presentation available as a PDF.
- Focus Group #3 – November 14 (noon-2:00 pm) – Prioritize the most important Technical Assistance Resources to prepare Comprehensive Plans. Presentation available as a PDF.
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.