Comprehensive Planning

This guide from the Maine State Planning Office was written to help communities in Maine prepare comprehensive plans to manage growth under the state's Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Act. Part A begins with how to get started: chapters cover getting organized to begin the planning process, planning the public participation effort, and describing the inventories, analysis, policy generation, and implementation strategies required for the plan. Part B covers elements of the comprehensive plan: topography, soils, and water; habitats and natural resources; hazard mitigation; historic and archaeological resources; agriculture and forestry; marine resources; the economy; population and demographics; land-use patterns; housing; transportation; recreation and open space; public facilities and services; and government and fiscal capacity. Part C focuses on creating the future land-use plan.