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§4325
Title 30-A: MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES
Part 2: MUNICIPALITIES
Subpart 6-A: PLANNING AND LAND USE REGULATION
Chapter 187: PLANNING AND LAND USE REGULATION
Subchapter 2: GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Article 2: GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
§4327

§4326. Growth management program elements

(CONFLICT)
A growth management program must include at least a comprehensive plan, as described in subsections 1 to 4, and an implementation program as described in subsection 5.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).]
1.  Inventory, analysis and needs assessment.  A comprehensive plan must include an inventory and analysis section addressing state goals under this subchapter and issues of regional or local significance that the municipality or multimunicipal region considers important. The inventory must be based on environmental systems mapping and other information provided by the State, regional councils and other relevant local sources. The analysis must include 10-year projections of local and regional population and residential trends; the best available projection of trends in economic activity; the projected need for public facilities and services; and the vulnerability of and potential impacts on natural resources. The department shall adopt rules to establish a tiered framework for inventory requirements based on municipal and regional conditions. The rules must allow flexibility in the timing and quantity of data collected so that communities may pursue a strategy of iterative rounds of public participation, data collection and data generation and require that the comprehensive plan include a map of existing conditions that identifies areas in the municipality where development would be inconsistent with the plan and areas that may be considered suitable for development. The map of existing conditions must, at a minimum, include data related to the environment, the natural resource-based economy, local or regional water supplies and natural hazards. The map is required only if the department provides data and tools that allow municipalities to produce the map at a minor cost or less.  
A comprehensive plan must include a needs assessment that identifies conditions within the municipality or multimunicipal region that are necessary to support housing, economic growth and development; protect public health, safety and welfare of the community; and protect the environment and critical resources. The plan must describe the public input received to determine those needs.  
A. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
B. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
C. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
D. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
E. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
F. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
G. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
H. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
H-1. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
I. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
J. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
K. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
L. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
[PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).]
2.  Policy development.  A comprehensive plan must include a local goals and policy development section that relates the findings contained in the inventory and analysis section to the state goals and to the local goals. The policies must:  
A. Promote the state goals under this subchapter;   [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).]
B. Address any conflicts between state goals under this subchapter;   [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).]
C. Address any conflicts between regional and local issues;   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).]
D. Address the State's coastal management policies under Title 38, section 1801 if any part of the municipality or multimunicipal region is a coastal area; and   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).]
E. Promote consistency with the State's climate action plan under Title 38, section 577.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).]
3.  Implementation strategy.  A comprehensive plan must include an implementation strategy section that contains a timetable for the implementation program, including land use ordinances, ensuring that the goals established under this subchapter are met. These implementation strategies must be consistent with state law and guidelines for the implementation program as described in subsection 5 and must actively promote policies developed during the planning process. The strategies and timetable must guide the subsequent adoption of policies, programs and land use ordinances, including a capital investment plan for the replacement and expansion of public facilities and services required to meet projected growth and development, and periodic review of the comprehensive plan.  
The department shall develop and maintain a catalog of implementation strategies appropriate for various place types.  
A. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. H, §1 (RP); PL 2001, c. 667, Pt. H, §3 (AFF).]
B. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
C. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
D. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
E. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
F. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
G. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
H. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
I. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
J. [PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (RP).]
[PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).]
3-A.  Guidelines for policy development and implementation strategies.   
A. (CONFLICT: Text as repealed by PL 2025, c. 393, §34)  
(6) (CONFLICT: Text as amended by PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §34) A municipality or multimunicipal region exercising the discretion afforded by subparagraph (4) shall review the basis for its demonstration during the periodic revisions undertaken pursuant to Title 5, section 3233;   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §34 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
B. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
C. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
D. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
E. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
F. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
G. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
H. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
I. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
J. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
K. [PL 2021, c. 657, §10 (RP).]
L. [PL 2023, c. 646, Pt. A, §37 (RP).]
Revisor's Note: Paragraph L as enacted by PL 2019, c. 145, §9 is REALLOCATED TO TITLE 30-A, SECTION 4326, SUBSECTION 3-A, PARAGRAPH M
M. (REALLOCATED FROM T. 30-A, §4326, sub-§3-A, ¶L) [PL 2023, c. 646, Pt. A, §38 (RP).]
N. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
[PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §34 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
3-B.  Future land use plan.  A comprehensive plan must include a future land use plan as described in this subsection.  
A. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a future land use plan must identify and designate geographic areas in the municipality or multimunicipal region as growth areas and rural areas and may include one or more growth areas identified in a comprehensive plan adopted or to be adopted by one or more other municipalities or multimunicipal regions in accordance with an interlocal agreement adopted in accordance with chapter 115 with one or more municipalities or multimunicipal regions. This information may be presented in a narrative or map form.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (NEW).]
B. A future land use plan may designate any portion of land area that is not a growth area or a rural area as a transitional area and as appropriate for medium-density development that does not require expansion of municipal facilities and does not include significant rural resources.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (NEW).]
C. A future land use plan may identify and designate more place types to provide further guidance on the establishment or modification of a municipality's or multimunicipal region's rate of growth ordinance, zoning ordinance or impact fee ordinance.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (NEW).]
D. A future land use plan is not required to identify growth areas within the municipality or multimunicipal region for residential, commercial or industrial growth if the municipality or multimunicipal region demonstrates, in its comprehensive plan and in accordance with rules adopted by the department pursuant to this article, that:  
(1) It is not possible to accommodate future residential, commercial or industrial growth within the municipality or multimunicipal region because of severe physical limitations, including, without limitation, the lack of adequate water supply and sewage disposal services, very shallow soils or limitations imposed by protected natural resources;  
(2) The municipality or multimunicipal region has experienced minimal or no residential, commercial or industrial development over the past decade and this condition is expected to continue over the 10-year planning period; or  
(3) The municipality or multimunicipal region has no downtown or densely developed area.  
A municipality or multimunicipal region exercising the discretion afforded by this paragraph shall review the basis for its demonstration during the periodic revisions undertaken pursuant to section 4347‑A.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (NEW).]
4.  Regional coordination program.  A comprehensive plan must include a regional coordination program, which must be developed with other municipalities or multimunicipal regions to manage shared resources and facilities, such as rivers, aquifers, transportation facilities and others. This program must provide for consistency with the comprehensive plans of other municipalities or multimunicipal regions for these resources and facilities.  
[PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).]
4-A.  Addressing sea level rise. 
[PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
4-B.  Addressing climate risks and building resilience to natural hazards. 
[PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (RP).]
5.  Implementation program.  An implementation program must be adopted that is consistent with the elements of the comprehensive plan prepared pursuant to subsections 1 to 4 and this subsection. In developing its implementation program, a municipality or multimunicipal region shall employ the following guidelines consistent with the goals of this subchapter.  
A. Within growth areas, a municipality or multimunicipal region shall:  
(1) Establish development standards;  
(2) Establish timely permitting procedures;  
(3) Ensure that needed public services are available; and  
(4) Prevent inappropriate development in natural hazard areas, including floodplains and areas of high erosion.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (NEW).]
B. Within rural areas, a municipality or multimunicipal region shall adopt land use policies and ordinances to discourage incompatible development. These policies and ordinances may include, without limitation, density limits, cluster or special zoning, acquisition of land or development rights, transfer of development rights pursuant to section 4328 and performance standards. The municipality or multimunicipal region shall also identify which rural areas qualify as critical rural areas. Critical rural areas must receive priority consideration for proactive strategies designed to enhance rural industries, manage wildlife and fisheries habitats and preserve sensitive natural areas.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1989, c. 104, §§A45,C10 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 271, §4 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 562, §6 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 878, §A84 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 79 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 278, §2 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 622, §F29 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 722, §7 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 722, §11 (AFF). PL 1991, c. 838, §§8-11 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 166, §§6,7 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 721, §A3 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 721, §H1 (AFF). PL 1999, c. 776, §8 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 406, §4 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 578, §15 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 592, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 667, §§H1,2 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 667, §H3 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 247, §§2, 3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. JJ, §17 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. JJ, §41 (AFF). PL 2015, c. 349, §§3-6 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 38, §§5-9 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 145, §§5-9 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 153, §§4, 5 (AMD). RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §§40-42 (COR). PL 2021, c. 590, Pt. A, §§6-9 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 657, §§5-12 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 754, §§4-6 (AMD). RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §109 (COR). PL 2023, c. 646, Pt. A, §§35-38 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §34 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).
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