Blogs

We remain steadfast in a long-standing opposition to any weakening of Maine’s highly effective ban on billboards. The 2006 Brookings Institute Report, Charting Maine’s Future, commissioned by GrowSmart Maine, emphasizes that Maine’s unique and enduring quality of place is a valuable asset in itself, as well as a powerful economic development resource. In fact, we believe that the current restrictions on signage are extremely effective in protecting our state’s quality of place while allowing advertising and promotional efforts that are more than adequate to publicize various businesses and destinations.

Smart growth, as you can see in my testimony, is quite simply an effort and a set of principles to allow for greater choice and deliberative thinking and planning about our how communities grow, so that we are making most effective use of existing infrastructure and pulling demand away from rural lands for which the “highest and best use” truly is NOT development, but rather farming, forestry, and rural living. I’d ask you to review the ten principles listed as well – these are compatible with our mission, just as I expect they fit with your view of how your community, how Maine should grow. This certainly isn’t something that should be banned in Maine.

The 126th Legislature is in full swing, with hundreds of bills coming out of the Office of the Revisor each week, each then referred to committees of jurisdiction for public hearings and work sessions before coming before the House and Senate for votes by the full legislature.

For GrowSmart Maine, this is a time to review all bills with an eye towards where we can provide pivotal information and a unique perspective on issues key to our mission.  
In making these decisions, we look at each legislative proposal from the perspectives that include:

Regional comprehensive planning is key to growing Maine’s economy in a way that builds resilient communities and protects working and natural landscapes.   Whether in the relatively healthy southern part of the state or in the more challenged rim counties, a process to recognize the valuable assets in a region and building a plan to strengthen the economy is essential to Maine’s health and future.

Last year, the Land Use Regulation Commission was replaced with the Land Use Planning Commission in a process that called upon the Joint Legislative Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry as well as a diverse and committed stakeholder group that met numerous times across the state.  The intent was to ensure that the reconfigured Commission would be successful in balancing the many needs and interests related to Maine’s unorganized territories.  

On the 10 year anniversary of the Norway Opera House’s designation as a Most Endangered Property, its revitalization will be celebrated by a ribbon cutting Friday, March 1. Much more than a local event, its story is heartwarming and inspiring to other towns who strive to remain or become “communities”.  The Norway Opera House has broad significance and state-wide relevance as a prime example of how policy initiatives can “hit the pavement” with success.

Located in Norway’s historic center of socioeconomic interaction, the Norway Opera House was the community’s symbol of pride, prosperity and community activity for many years, featuring famous headliners and healthy first-floor retail establishments that activated Main Street. Built immediately after a fire in 1894 which devastated Norway’s downtown, this building was a symbol of reconstruction and the largest building on Main Street. The Opera House’s landmark clock tower still dominates the Main Street skyline and can be seen from 360 degrees and for considerable distances.

We know you want to be involved in making your own community more vibrant, with walkable streets in the downtown and healthy productive rural areas as well.  

I am a conservation planner for The Nature Conservancy, a global non-governmental, non-profit, conservation organization. My job is to identify, strategize and measure conservation opportunities and outcomes where we work.

My work overlaps GrowSmart's mission in several ways;

With the Summit over and the election decided, Bruce Katz and Brookings Metro are taking on the transition and the next phase of governing.  In the face of the jobs deficit, opportunity gap and looming fiscal cliff, they are launching a post-election policy framing and brief series, Remaking Federalism | Renewing the Economy.  

As a municipal grant writer, a forestry outreach coordinator and a freelance journalist, I had a problem choosing which breakout session to attend since almost all 20 of the sessions would have been interesting to me. What inspired me most about Summit 2012 was the sense of community.

When we moved to Maine six years ago, we did so for the quality of life. We wanted to raise our children in a healthier atmosphere, somewhere with clean air, water, and lots of snow. We knew after visiting several places in Maine that there was something special about the state but especially about the people. We want to be here, whether we were born here or not. The common spirit of the people is what brings and keeps talented people in Maine and what makes this such a vibrant community.