Subchapter 2: MAINE LAND USE REGULATION COMMISSION
§685-A. Land use districts and standards
1.Classification and districting of lands. The commission, acting on principles of sound land use planning and development, shall determine the boundaries of areas
within the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State that fall into land use districts and designate each area in one
of the following major district classifications: protection, management and development. The commission, acting in accordance
with the procedures set forth in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II, shall adopt regulations for determining the boundaries
of each major type of district in accordance with the following standards:
A. Protection districts: Areas where development would jeopardize significant natural, recreational and historic resources,
including, but not limited to, flood plains, precipitous slopes, wildlife habitat and other areas critical to the ecology
of the region or State; [1999, c. 333, §5 (AMD).]
B. Management districts: Areas that are appropriate for commercial forest product or agricultural uses or for the extraction
of nonmetallic minerals and for which plans for additional development are not presently formulated nor additional development
anticipated; and [1999, c. 333, §5 (AMD).]
C. [1973, c. 569, §10 (RP).]
D. Development districts: Areas discernible as having patterns of intensive residential, recreational, commercial or industrial
use or commercial removal of metallic minerals and areas appropriate for designation as development districts when measured
against the purpose, intent and provisions of this chapter. [1999, c. 333, §5 (AMD).]
In addition to delineating the major district classifications listed, the commission may delineate such subclassifications
as may be necessary and desirable to carry out the intent of this chapter.
[
1999, c. 333, §5 (AMD)
.]
2.Interpretation of district boundaries. Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the official land use maps the following shall apply:
A. Boundaries indicated as approximately following center lines of public or private roads shall be construed to follow such
center lines. [1971, c. 457, §5 (NEW).]
B. Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be midway between the 2 outermost rails. [1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD).]
C. Boundaries indicated as approximately following property lines, township or county lines shall be construed as following
such lines. [1971, c. 457, §5 (NEW).]
D. Boundaries indicated as following shorelines shall be construed to follow such shorelines, and in event of natural change
in the shorelines, shall be construed as moving with the normal high water mark; boundaries indicated as following the center
lines of streams, rivers, canals, lakes or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such natural center lines. [1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD).]
E. Boundaries indicated as approximately following ridge lines or specific contour lines shall be construed to follow such
lines. [1971, c. 457, §5 (NEW).]
F. Boundaries indicated as parallel to or as extensions of features indicated in paragraphs A to E shall be so construed. [1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD).]
G. Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at variance with those shown on the official land use maps
or in other circumstances not covered by paragraphs A to F, the commission shall interpret the district boundaries. [1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD).]
[
1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD)
.]
3.Land use standards. The commission, acting on principles of sound land use planning and development, shall prepare land use standards prescribing
standards for the use of air, lands and waters. Except as provided in this chapter, these standards shall be adopted by the
commission in accordance with the procedures set forth in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II.
In addition to the purposes set forth in section 681, the land use standards shall:
A. Encourage the most desirable and appropriate use of air, land and water resources consistent with the comprehensive land
use plan; [1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD).]
B. Protect public health by reduction of noise, air pollution, water pollution and other environmental intrusions; [1971, c. 457, §5 (NEW).]
C. Protect and preserve significant natural, scenic and historic features where appropriate, beneficial and consistent with
the comprehensive land use plan; [1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD).]
D. Advise and assist the Department of Transportation and other concerned agencies in transportation planning and operation; [1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD).]
D-1. Provide for safe and appropriate loading, parking and circulation of land, air and water traffic; [RR 1993, c. 1, §33 (COR).]
E. Encourage minimal adverse impact of one use upon the use of surrounding areas by setting standards of performance describing
desirable and acceptable levels of operation in connection with any use and its relation to surrounding areas, including provisions
for the eventual amelioration of existing adverse impact; [1971, c. 457, §5 (NEW).]
F. Reflect a consideration of the availability and capability of the natural resources base, including soils, topography or
sufficient healthful water supplies; and [1983, c. 114, §1 (AMD).]
G. Regulate, as necessary, motor vehicles as defined in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 42, on icebound inland lakes that
are completely encompassed by unorganized territories during the hours from sunset to sunrise of the following day. [1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §26 (AMD); 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF); 1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF).]
[
1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §26 (AMD);
1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 (AFF);
1995, c. 65, Pt. C, §15 (AFF)
.]
4.Land use standards considered as minimum requirements. Land use standards shall be interpreted and applied by the commission as minimum requirements, adopted to reasonably and
effectively promote health, safety and general welfare and insure compliance with state plans and policies.
Whenever the requirements of the adopted land use standards are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully adopted
rules, regulations, standards, ordinances, deed restrictions or covenants, the more protective of existing natural, recreation
and historic resources shall govern.
Any portion of a land use district which subsequently becomes an organized municipality or part of an organized municipality
or any plantation which adopts planning, zoning and subdivision control as provided in Title 30-A, section 7059, shall continue
to be regulated by the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission pursuant to this chapter until such time as the municipality or
plantation of which the regulated district is then a part shall adopt land use plans and regulations not less protective of
the existing natural, recreational or historic resources than those adopted by the commission.
A. Any municipality organized after September 23, 1971, or any plantation which adopts planning, zoning and subdivision control
as provided in Title 30-A, section 7059, may submit to the commission and receive the approval of the commission of the following:
(1) A comprehensive land use plan for that plantation or proposed city or town;
(2) Standards for determining land use district boundaries and uses permitted within the districts in that plantation or
proposed city or town;
(3) A land use district boundary map for that plantation or proposed city or town; and
(4) Such other proposed regulations or standards as the commission deems to be necessary to achieve the purpose, intent and
provisions of this chapter.
Upon request of the municipality or plantation, the commission shall prepare such plans, maps, regulations and standards as
it may deem necessary to meet minimum planning and zoning standards for its approval of those standards.
Upon obtaining approval, the plantation, city or town shall thereafter adopt, administer and enforce the approved plans, maps,
regulations and standards. [1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §§22, 106 (AMD); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. From time to time, the commission may review the administration and enforcement of local land use plans and regulations
by plantations and municipalities which have adopted land use plans, maps, regulations and standards approved by the commission.
If, following the review, the commission finds that any of the following have occurred, the commission may reestablish its
jurisdiction over that plantation or municipality:
(1) A plantation or municipality has repealed the land use plan, maps, standards or regulations necessary to satisfy the
requirements of this subsection or has substantially modified the land use plan, maps, standards or regulations so that the
resources of the plantation or municipality are not reasonably protected;
(2) A plantation or municipality has abolished or does not have functioning the administrative bodies and officers necessary
to implement the land use program as approved by the commission, normally a planning board, board of appeals and code enforcement
officer are included, but this may vary depending on the local program; or
(3) A plantation or municipality has not administered or enforced its land use plan, maps, standards or regulations in a
manner which reasonably protects the resources in the plantation or municipality involved. [1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §§22, 106 (AMD); 1989, c. 6, (AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
The action by the commission shall conform with the provisions for rulemaking of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title
5, chapter 375.
Action taken by the commission to reestablish its jurisdiction over a plantation or municipality shall be effective immediately,
but shall be submitted to the current or next regular session of the Legislature for approval. If the Legislature fails to
act, the action shall continue in effect.
[
1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §§22, 106 (AMD);
1989, c. 6, (AMD);
1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD);
1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD)
.]
5.Considerations, application and exemptions. A land use standard may not deprive an owner or lessee or subsequent owner or lessee of any interest in real estate of the
use to which it is lawfully devoted at the time of adoption of that standard. Year-round and seasonal single residences and
operating farms in existence and use as of September 23, 1971, while so used, and new accessory buildings or structures or
renovations of the buildings or structures that are or may be necessary to the satisfactory and comfortable continuation of
these residential and farm uses, except for those located in areas of special flood hazard as defined in the commission's rules, are exempt from the requirements of section 685-B, subsection 1.
Land use standards adopted pursuant to this chapter for management districts may not limit the right, method or manner of
cutting or removing timber or crops, the construction and maintenance of hauling roads, the operation of machinery or the
erection of buildings, including buildings to store equipment and materials for maintaining roads, and other structures used
primarily for agricultural or commercial forest product purposes, including tree farms. The commission may not require a
permit for such activities in a management district. Notwithstanding this subsection, a permit from the commission is required
for roads covering a ground area of 3 acres or more constructed in management districts, unless those roads are constructed
and maintained in accordance with the guidelines of the commission's Land Use Handbook, Section 6, "Erosion Control on Logging
Jobs," or as revised. The commission may require a person constructing a road to notify the commission of the location of
the road within 21 days.
Land use standards adopted pursuant to this chapter must establish a minimum setback of 100 feet for all structures within
a commercial sporting camp complex that are constructed solely for the housing of guests, including structures within a main
sporting camp complex and an outpost camp. The standards must establish a minimum setback of 150 feet for all other structures
within a sporting camp complex, including, but not limited to, a main lodge, a dining area, a workshop and a parking area.
In adopting district boundaries and land use standards, the commission shall give consideration to public and private planning
reports and other data available to it, and shall give weight to existing uses of land and to any reasonable plan of its owner
as to its future use.
A permit from the commission is not required for the repair or maintenance of county-owned roads, bridges or culverts as long
as the repair or maintenance is conducted in accordance with commission standards that pertain to these activities.
[
2009, c. 111, §1 (AMD)
.]
6.Interim district boundaries and land use standards.
[
1999, c. 333, §6 (RP)
.]
7.Hearings and procedures.
[
1999, c. 333, §7 (RP)
.]
7-A.Procedure for adoption or amendment of land use district standards, district boundaries and land use maps. This subsection governs procedures for the establishment and amendment of land use district standards and boundaries and
the amendment of the commission's land use maps.
A. The commission or its staff may initiate and any state or federal agency, any county or municipal governing body or any
property owner or lessee may petition for adoption or amendment of land use district standards, district boundaries or land
use maps. [1999, c. 333, §8 (NEW).]
B. Adoption and amendment of land use district standards, district boundaries and land use maps are rule-making procedures
subject to the requirements of Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II, except that the requirements of Title 5, section 8052,
subsections 5, 5-A and 7; section 8053-A; section 8056, subsections 1, 3 and 4; section 8056-A; section 8057, subsection 2;
section 8057-A; section 8060; section 8062; and section 8064 do not apply. The requirements of Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter
II are further modified by the following provisions.
(1) Public notice of proposals to adopt or amend land use district standards, district boundaries or land use maps must
state the time and the place where copies of the proposal may be inspected prior to the hearing.
(2) The commission shall give notice of hearings to amend district boundaries, by mail, to appropriate state and federal
agencies and the owners of directly affected and abutting properties, according to their names and addresses as shown on the
records of Maine Revenue Services or plantation or town tax assessors. If the number of owners of directly affected and abutting
properties is more than 50, notice may instead be by publication conforming to the requirements for newspaper publication
of hearings under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter IV.
(3) At any time prior to the date of adoption of proposed land use district standards, land use boundaries or land use maps,
the commission may elect to reopen the public hearing record and extend the time period for public comment to such date as
it may designate.
(4) The commission must act to adopt or not to adopt proposed land use district standards, land use boundaries or land use
maps within 90 days after the date of final closure of the public hearing.
(5) Land use district boundaries and land use maps become effective 15 days after adoption or amendment by the commission,
as long as the boundaries and maps are available in the appropriate registry of deeds for each county. Notice of adoption
or amendment of land use district boundaries and land use maps must be given by publication one time in a newspaper of general
circulation published in the area affected.
(6) Permanent land use standards adopted by the commission are effective immediately, but must be submitted to the next
regular or special session of the Legislature for approval or modification. If the Legislature fails to act, those standards
continue in full force and effect. [1999, c. 333, §8 (NEW).]
[
1999, c. 333, §8 (NEW)
.]
8.Amendments to district boundaries and standards.
[
1999, c. 333, §9 (RP)
.]
8-A.Criteria for adoption or amendment of land use district boundaries. A land use district boundary may not be adopted or amended unless there is substantial evidence that:
A. The proposed land use district is consistent with the standards for district boundaries in effect at the time, the comprehensive
land use plan and the purpose, intent and provisions of this chapter; and [1999, c. 333, §10 (NEW).]
B. The proposed land use district satisfies a demonstrated need in the community or area and has no undue adverse impact on
existing uses or resources or a new district designation is more appropriate for the protection and management of existing
uses and resources within the affected area. [1999, c. 333, §10 (NEW).]
[
1999, c. 333, §10 (NEW)
.]
8-B.Criteria for amendment of land use standards. Adoption or amendment of land use standards may not be approved unless there is substantial evidence that the proposed land
use standards would serve the purpose, intent and provisions of this chapter and would be consistent with the comprehensive
land use plan.
[
1999, c. 333, §10 (NEW)
.]
9.Periodic review of district boundaries and land use standards. At the end of each 5 years following initial adoption of permanent land use standards and districts, the commission shall
make a comprehensive review of the classification and delineation of districts of the land use standards. The assistance of
appropriate state agencies must be secured in making this review and public hearings must be held in accordance with the requirements
set forth in subsection 7-A.
[
1999, c. 333, §11 (AMD)
.]
B. The access and use needs of a person with a physical disability as described in Title 5, section 4553-A, subsection 1, paragraphs C and D who resides in or regularly uses a structure; or [2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §11 (AMD).]
10.Special exceptions and variances. The commission may approve the issuance of a special exception permit in strict compliance with this chapter and the rules
and standards adopted pursuant to this chapter. The commission may grant a variance when the commission finds that the proposed
development is in keeping with the general spirit and intent of this chapter, that the public interest is otherwise protected
and that strict compliance with the rules and standards adopted by this commission would cause unusual hardship or extraordinary
difficulties because of the following:
A. Exceptional or unique conditions of topography, access, location, shape, size or other physical features of the site; [2001, c. 105, §1 (NEW).]
C. Unusual circumstances that were not anticipated by the commission at the time the rules and standards were adopted. [2001, c. 105, §1 (NEW).]
[
2001, c. 105, §1 (RPR);
2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §11 (AMD)
.]
11.Public utility exemptions. Real estate used or to be used by a public utility, as defined in Title 35-A, section 102, subsection 13, may be wholly
or partially exempted from regulation to the extent that the commission may not prohibit such use but may impose terms and
conditions for use consistent with the purpose of this chapter, when, upon timely petition to the Public Utilities Commission
and after a hearing, the Public Utilities Commission determines that such exemption is necessary or desirable for the public
welfare or convenience.
[
1999, c. 657, §5 (AMD)
.]
11.Exemptions. Real estate used or to be used by a public utility, as defined in Title 35-A, section 102, subsection 13, or a person who is issued a certificate by the Public Utilities Commission under Title 35-A, section 122 may be wholly or partially exempted from regulation to the extent that the commission may not prohibit such use but may impose
terms and conditions for use consistent with the purpose of this chapter, when, upon timely petition , notice and public hearing, the Public Utilities Commission determines that such exemption is necessary or desirable for the public welfare
or convenience. The Public Utilities Commission shall adopt by rule procedures to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this
subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
[
2007, c. 656, Pt. A, §1 (AMD)
.]
12.Timber harvesting activities in areas adjacent to rivers, streams, ponds, wetlands and tidal waters. Rules adopted by the Commissioner of Conservation pursuant to section 8867-B for the purpose of regulating timber harvesting
and timber harvesting activities in areas adjacent to rivers, streams, ponds, wetlands and tidal waters become effective for
the unorganized and deorganized areas on the date established under Title 38, section 438-B, subsection 5.
The Director of the Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Conservation shall administer and enforce the regulation of
timber harvesting and timber harvesting activities in these areas. For the purposes of this subsection, "timber harvesting"
and "timber harvesting activities" have the same meanings as in section 8868, subsections 4 and 5.
[
2005, c. 226, §1 (RPR)
.]
13.Additions to expedited permitting area for wind energy development. The commission may add areas in the State's unorganized and deorganized areas to the expedited permitting area for wind energy
development in accordance with Title 35-A, section 3453.
[
2007, c. 661, Pt. C, §1 (NEW)
.]
SECTION HISTORY
1971, c. 457, §5 (NEW).
1971, c. 544, §§28-C-28-E (AMD).
1971, c. 593, §22 (AMD).
1971, c. 618, §§12,17 (AMD).
1971, c. 619, §§3-5 (AMD).
1973, c. 569, §10 (AMD).
1973, c. 788, §§43-A-43-C (AMD).
1975, c. 234, §§1,2 (AMD).
1975, c. 497, §3 (AMD).
1975, c. 508, §§2,3 (AMD).
1975, c. 665, (AMD).
1977, c. 327, §§1,1A,2 (AMD).
1977, c. 390, §2 (AMD).
1977, c. 694, §§222-227B (AMD).
1979, c. 127, §§65-67 (AMD).
1979, c. 497, §§2,3 (AMD).
1983, c. 114, §§1,2 (AMD).
1983, c. 827, §1 (AMD).
1983, c. 862, §34 (AMD).
1985, c. 70, §1 (AMD).
1985, c. 506, §A12 (AMD).
1987, c. 737, §§C22,C106 (AMD).
1989, c. 6, (AMD).
1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD).
1989, c. 104, §§C8,C10 (AMD).
1989, c. 624, (AMD).
1989, c. 810, §1 (AMD).
1991, c. 308, (AMD).
1991, c. 653, (AMD).
RR 1993, c. 1, §33 (COR).
1995, c. 64, §1 (AMD).
1995, c. 65, §A26 (AMD).
1995, c. 386, §2 (AMD).
1995, c. 462, §A30 (AMD).
1995, c. 65, §§A153,C15 (AFF).
1997, c. 526, §14 (AMD).
1997, c. 642, §3 (AMD).
1999, c. 333, §§5-11 (AMD).
1999, c. 530, §8 (AMD).
1999, c. 657, §5 (AMD).
2001, c. 105, §1 (AMD).
2001, c. 402, §3 (AMD).
2003, c. 335, §1 (AMD).
2005, c. 226, §1 (AMD).
2007, c. 656, Pt. A, §1 (AMD).
2007, c. 661, Pt. C, §1 (AMD).
2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §11 (AMD).
2009, c. 111, §1 (AMD).
Data for this page extracted on 10/22/2009 03:22:18.