Title 30-A: MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Part 2: MUNICIPALITIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 737, PT. A, §2 (NEW)
Subpart 6-A: PLANNING AND LAND USE REGULATION HEADING: PL 1989, C. 104, PT. A, §45 (NEW)
Chapter 187: PLANNING AND LAND USE REGULATION HEADING: PL 1989, C. 104, PT. A, §45 (NEW)
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS HEADING: PL 1989, C. 104, PT. A, §45 (NEW)
§4301. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).]
1.Affordable housing. "Affordable housing" means a decent, safe and sanitary dwelling, apartment or other living accommodation for a household
whose income does not exceed 80% of the median income for the area as defined by the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development under the United States Housing Act of 1937, Public Law 412, 50 Stat. 888, Section 8, as amended.
A. [1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW); 1989, c. 878, Pt. A, §83 (RP).]
B. [1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW); 1989, c. 878, Pt. A, §83 (RP).]
C. [1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW); 1989, c. 878, Pt. A, §83 (RP).]
D. [1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW); 1989, c. 878, Pt. A, §83 (RP).]
E. [1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW); 1989, c. 878, Pt. A, §83 (RP).]
[
2001, c. 673, §1 (RPR)
.]
1-A.Cluster development. "Cluster development" means a form of development that allows a subdivision design in which individual lot sizes and setbacks
are reduced in exchange for the creation of common open space and recreation areas, the preservation of environmentally sensitive
areas, agriculture and silviculture and the reduction in the size of road and utility systems.
[
2005, c. 244, §1 (NEW)
.]
2.Coastal area. "Coastal area" means a coastal island and any municipality or unorganized township contiguous to tidal waters. The inland
boundary of the coastal area is the inland line of any coastal town line.
[
2001, c. 578, §1 (AMD)
.]
3.Comprehensive plan. "Comprehensive plan" means a document or interrelated documents containing the elements established under section 4326,
subsections 1 to 4, including the strategies for an implementation program which are consistent with the goals and guidelines
established under subchapter II.
[
1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW);
1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW);
1989, c. 562, §1 (AMD)
.]
4.Conditional zoning. "Conditional zoning" means the process by which the municipal legislative body may rezone property to permit the use of
that property subject to conditions not generally applicable to other properties similarly zoned.
[
1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW);
1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW)
.]
4-A.Critical rural area. "Critical rural area" means a rural area that is specifically identified and designated by a municipality's or multimunicipal
region's comprehensive plan as deserving maximum protection from development to preserve natural resources and related economic
activities that may include, but are not limited to, significant farmland, forest land or mineral resources; high-value wildlife
or fisheries habitat; scenic areas; public water supplies; scarce or especially vulnerable natural resources; and open lands
functionally necessary to support a vibrant rural economy.
[
2001, c. 578, §2 (NEW)
.]
4-B.Critical waterfront area. "Critical waterfront area" means a shorefront area characterized by functionally water-dependent uses, as defined in Title
38, section 436-A, subsection 6, and specifically identified and designated by a municipality's or multimunicipal region's
comprehensive plan as deserving maximum protection from incompatible development.
[
2001, c. 578, §2 (NEW)
.]
5.Contract zoning. "Contract zoning" means the process by which the property owner, in consideration of the rezoning of that person's property,
agrees to the imposition of certain conditions or restrictions not imposed on other similarly zoned properties.
[
1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW);
1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW)
.]
5-A.Downtown. "Downtown" means:
A. The central business district of a community that serves as the center for socioeconomic interaction in the community and
is characterized by a cohesive core of commercial and mixed-use buildings, often interspersed with civic, religious and residential
buildings and public spaces, typically arranged along a main street and intersecting side streets, walkable and served by
public infrastructure; or [1999, c. 776, §7 (NEW).]
B. An area identified as a downtown in a comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to chapter 187, subchapter II. [1999, c. 776, §7 (NEW).]
[
1999, c. 776, §7 (NEW)
.]
5-B.Growth-related capital investment. "Growth-related capital investment" means investment by the State in only the following projects, even if privately owned,
whether using state, federal or other public funds and whether in the form of a purchase, lease, grant, loan, loan guarantee,
credit, tax credit or other financial assistance:
A. Construction or acquisition of newly constructed multifamily rental housing; [1999, c. 776, §7 (NEW).]
B. Development of industrial or business parks; [1999, c. 776, §7 (NEW).]
C. Construction or extension of sewer, water and other utility lines; [1999, c. 776, §7 (NEW).]
D. Grants and loans for public or quasi-public service infrastructure, public or quasi-public facilities and community buildings;
and [2001, c. 613, §1 (AMD).]
E. Construction or expansion of state office buildings, state courts, hospitals and other quasi-public facilities and other
civic buildings that serve public clients and customers. [2001, c. 613, §1 (AMD).]
"Growth-related capital investment" does not include investment in the following: the operation or maintenance of a governmental
or quasi-governmental facility or program; the renovation of a governmental facility that does not significantly expand the
facility's capacity; general purpose aid for education; school construction or renovation projects; highway or bridge projects;
programs that provide direct financial assistance to individual businesses; community revenue sharing; or public health programs.
[
2001, c. 613, §1 (AMD)
.]
6.Development. "Development" means a change in land use involving alteration of the land, water or vegetation, or the addition or alteration
of structures or other construction not naturally occurring.
[
1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW);
1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW)
.]
6-A.Impact fee. "Impact fee" means a charge or assessment imposed by a municipality against a new development to fund or recoup a portion
of the cost of new, expanded or replacement infrastructure facilities necessitated by and attributable at least in part to
the new development.
[
2005, c. 597, §1 (AMD);
2005, c. 597, §4 (AFF)
.]
6-B.Impact fee ordinance. "Impact fee ordinance" means an ordinance that establishes the applicability, formula and means by which impact fees are
assessed.
[
2001, c. 406, §1 (NEW)
.]
6-C.Growth area. "Growth area" means an area that is designated in a municipality's or multimunicipal region's comprehensive plan as suitable
for orderly residential, commercial or industrial development, or any combinations of those types of development, and into
which most development projected over 10 years is directed.
[
2001, c. 578, §3 (NEW)
.]
7.Implementation program. "Implementation program" means that component of a local growth management program that begins after the adoption of a comprehensive
plan and that includes the full range of municipal policy-making powers, including spending and borrowing powers, as well
as the powers to adopt or implement ordinances, codes, rules or other land use regulations, tools or mechanisms that carry
out the purposes and general policy statements and strategies of the comprehensive plan in a manner consistent with the goals
and guidelines of subchapter 2.
[
2005, c. 597, §2 (AMD);
2005, c. 597, §4 (AFF)
.]
8.Land use ordinance. "Land use ordinance" means an ordinance or regulation of general application adopted by the municipal legislative body which
controls, directs or delineates allowable uses of land and the standards for those uses.
[
1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW);
1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW)
.]
9.Growth management program. "Growth management program" means a document containing the components described in section 4326, including the implementation
program, that is consistent with the goals and guidelines established by subchapter II and that regulates land use beyond
that required by Title 38, chapter 3, subchapter I, article 2-B.
[
2001, c. 578, §4 (AMD)
.]
10.Planning committee. "Planning committee" means the committee established by the municipal officers of a municipality or combination of municipalities
that has the general responsibility established under sections 4324 and 4326.
[
2001, c. 578, §5 (AMD)
.]
11.Moratorium. "Moratorium" means a land use ordinance or other regulation approved by a municipal legislative body that, if necessary,
may be adopted on an emergency basis and given immediate effect and that temporarily defers all development, or a type of
development, by withholding any permit, authorization or approval necessary for the specified type or types of development.
[
2005, c. 597, §2 (AMD);
2005, c. 597, §4 (AFF)
.]
11-A.Multimunicipal region. "Multimunicipal region" means a region made up of 2 or more municipalities that work together to cooperatively establish
a growth management program or independent growth management programs that are unified with respect to the implementation
of the state goal identified in section 4312, subsection 3, paragraph A. The several municipalities in a multimunicipal region
may establish the region pursuant to section 4325 or chapter 115.
[
2001, c. 578, §6 (NEW)
.]
12.Municipal reviewing authority. "Municipal reviewing authority" means the municipal planning board, agency or office, or if none, the municipal officers.
[
1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW);
1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW)
.]
13.Office. "Office" means the State Planning Office.
[
1995, c. 395, Pt. D, §12 (AMD)
.]
13-A.Rate of growth ordinance. "Rate of growth ordinance" means a land use ordinance or other rule that limits the number of building or development permits
issued by a municipality or other jurisdiction over a designated time frame.
[
2001, c. 406, §1 (NEW)
.]
14.Regional council. "Regional council" means a regional planning commission or a council of governments established under chapter 119, subchapter
I.
[
1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW);
1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW)
.]
14-A.Service center community. "Service center community" means a municipality or group of municipalities identified by the office according to a methodology
established by rule that includes 4 basic criteria, including level of retail sales, jobs-to-workers ratio, the amount of
federally assisted housing and the volume of service sector jobs. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.
[
2001, c. 90, §1 (NEW)
.]
14-B.Rural area. "Rural area" means a geographic area that is identified and designated in a municipality's or multimunicipal region's comprehensive
plan as an area that is deserving of some level of regulatory protection from unrestricted development for purposes that may
include, but are not limited to, supporting agriculture, forestry, mining, open space, wildlife habitat, fisheries habitat
and scenic lands, and away from which most development projected over 10 years is diverted.
[
2001, c. 578, §6 (NEW)
.]
14-C.Transitional area. "Transitional area" means an area that is designated in a municipality's or multimunicipal region's comprehensive plan as
suitable for a share of projected residential, commercial or industrial development but that is neither intended to accept
the amount or density of development appropriate for a growth area nor intended to provide the level of protection for rural
resources afforded in a rural area or critical rural area.
[
2001, c. 578, §6 (NEW)
.]
15.Zoning.
[
1993, c. 166, §2 (RP)
.]
15-A.Zoning ordinance. "Zoning ordinance" means a type of land use ordinance that divides a municipality into districts and that prescribes and
reasonably applies different regulations in each district.
[
1993, c. 166, §3 (NEW)
.]
SECTION HISTORY
1989, c. 104, §§A45,C10 (NEW).
1989, c. 562, §1 (AMD).
1989, c. 581, §6 (AMD).
1989, c. 878, §A83 (AMD).
1991, c. 18, §1 (AMD).
1991, c. 722, §5 (AMD).
1991, c. 780, §E1 (AMD).
1991, c. 722, §11 (AFF).
1993, c. 166, §§1-3 (AMD).
1995, c. 395, §D12 (AMD).
1999, c. 776, §7 (AMD).
2001, c. 90, §1 (AMD).
2001, c. 406, §1 (AMD).
2001, c. 578, §§1-6 (AMD).
2001, c. 613, §1 (AMD).
2001, c. 673, §1 (AMD).
2005, c. 244, §1 (AMD).
2005, c. 597, §§1,2 (AMD).
2005, c. 597, §4 (AFF).
Data for this page extracted on 11/06/2009 08:32:38.