Legislative Testimony 2022
Learn about GrowSmart Maine’s testimony for various Smart Growth topics below.
EQUITY
Support of LD 2003 “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions”
Support of LD 2003, “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions”
Support of LD 1961 “An Act To Help Alleviate Maine’s Housing Shortage and Change the Membership of the Maine State Housing Authority”
GrowSmart Maine is a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit organization that helps communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth. Fundamental to this is equitable access to housing choices, something we have seen particularly at risk in the most recent few years with the extraordinary influx of people who appreciate our quality of place.
Support of LD 1995 Supplemental Budget Part Z336, Housing Opportunity Program, within Dept of Economic and Community Development
Read the full testimony here.
Support of LD 906 “An Act To Provide Passamaquoddy Tribal Members Access to Clean Drinking Water”
A bill that would ensure tribal sovereignty and plentiful, safe drinking water.
Support of LD 1626 “An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act”
The intersection of LD 1626 and our mission relates to land use and natural resource management. Restoring their self-determination is a tangible recognition of the Wabanaki tribes’ long history of sound and thoughtful stewardship of lands and natural resources. As...
Opposition to LD 1884 “An Act To Create Affordable Agricultural Homesteads”
Read the full testimony here.
CLIMATE & ENERGY
Support of LD 1970 “An Act To Implement Agency Recommendations Relating to Sea Level Rise and Climate Resilience Provided Pursuant to Resolve 2021, Chapter 67”
Read the full testimony here.
Support of LD 1616 “An Act To Enhance the Ability of Municipalities to Address Climate Change Impacts by Protecting and Restoring Threatened Natural Resources”
Read the full testimony here.
BROADBAND
Neither For Nor Against LD 1894 “An Act To Support Municipal Broadband Infrastructure through Incentives and Competition”
Read the full testimony here.
Support of Andrew Butcher for President of Maine Connectivity Authority
Read the full testimony here.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Support of LD 2003 “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions”
Support of LD 2003, “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions”
Support of LD 1961 “An Act To Help Alleviate Maine’s Housing Shortage and Change the Membership of the Maine State Housing Authority”
GrowSmart Maine is a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit organization that helps communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth. Fundamental to this is equitable access to housing choices, something we have seen particularly at risk in the most recent few years with the extraordinary influx of people who appreciate our quality of place.
Support of LD 1995 Supplemental Budget Part Z336, Housing Opportunity Program, within Dept of Economic and Community Development
Read the full testimony here.
Opposition to LD 1884 “An Act To Create Affordable Agricultural Homesteads”
Read the full testimony here.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Support of OPEGA evaluation of Maine’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HRCT)
Read the full testimony here.
REGIONAL & LAND USE PLANNING
Support of LD 2003 “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions”
Support of LD 2003, “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions”
Support of LD 1995 Supplemental Budget Parts Z237 Geology and Resources Information, Z236 Land Use Planning Commission, within Dept of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Read the full testimony here.
Support of LD 1995 Supplemental Budget Part Z336, Housing Opportunity Program, within Dept of Economic and Community Development
Read the full testimony here.
Support of LD 906 “An Act To Provide Passamaquoddy Tribal Members Access to Clean Drinking Water”
A bill that would ensure tribal sovereignty and plentiful, safe drinking water.
Support of LD 1626 “An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act”
The intersection of LD 1626 and our mission relates to land use and natural resource management. Restoring their self-determination is a tangible recognition of the Wabanaki tribes’ long history of sound and thoughtful stewardship of lands and natural resources. As...
Opposition to LD 1884 “An Act To Create Affordable Agricultural Homesteads”
Read the full testimony here.
BUDGETS & BONDS
Support of LD 1995 Supplemental Budget Parts Z237 Geology and Resources Information, Z236 Land Use Planning Commission, within Dept of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Read the full testimony here.
Support of LD 1995 Supplemental Budget In support of the funding proposal for MaineDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Fund, Section Z017, and Highway and Bridge Capital Section 0604, page A154
Read the full testimony here.
Support of LD 1995 Supplemental Budget Part Z336, Housing Opportunity Program, within Dept of Economic and Community Development
Read the full testimony here.
TRANSPORTATION
Support of Nomination of Marguerite Miller Fleming to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority
Read the full testimony here.
Support of LD 2003 “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions”
Support of LD 2003, “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions”
Support of LD 1995 Supplemental Budget In support of the funding proposal for MaineDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Fund, Section Z017, and Highway and Bridge Capital Section 0604, page A154
Read the full testimony here.
Support of Nomination of Alan Casavant for Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority
Read the full testimony here.
GENERAL TOPICS
GrowSmart Maine Testifies in Support of Increased Options and Access to Transportation
Members of this committee, more than most, understand that transportation infrastructure impacts all aspects of Mainers’ lives; where we live, where we work, how we get between the two as well as to where we recreate and shop. The options available to us also greatly impact our personal health, our household budgets as well as the costs for municipalities as well as state and federal governments.
We support the approach presented in this bill, with a more comprehensive Maine Public Transit Advisory Council and a renewed focus on public transportation. Maine’s population is changing. Our elders are looking for options in where and how they live, more of our young people no longer consider car ownership a necessity but rather a burden, those with disabilities are more engaged than ever in their communities and families work hard in balancing the needs of all their members. In all of these instances, a comprehensive transportation policy, with input from a diverse group of stakeholder groups will make for a stronger, more sustainable Maine.
GrowSmart MaineTestifies in Favor of LD 1172, “An Act to Support the Maine Downtown Center”
Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in favor of LD 1172, “An Act to Support the Maine Downtown Center” April 22, 2013 Senator Goodall, Representative Berry and members of the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s...
GrowSmart Maine Featured Nonprofit at April Portland Greendrinks
PORTLAND - Over 450 people filled the three vintage and retro treasure-filled floors of the Portland Flea-for-All at 125 Kennebec Street in Portland last Tuesday evening. While the draw of stacks of vinyl records and a rather creepy talking clown contraption is...
GrowSmart Maine Testifies in Support of Downtown Revitalization
Recommendations to help Downtown Revitalization efforts in Maine Prepared for the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future Senator Goodall, Representative Berry and members of the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s...
GrowSmart Maine Testifies in Favor of LD 825, “Resolve, To Study Climate Change and Implement the Recommendations of the Department of Environmental Protection Report on Climate Change”
PRESS RELEASE April 4, 2013 GrowSmart Maine 415 Congress St, Suite #204 Portland, ME 04101 207.699.4330 CONTACT: Nancy E. Smith Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in favor of LD 825, “Resolve, To Study Climate Change and...
A Smart Evening in Portland – This Tuesday!
Have you heard of "Greendrinks"? Do you like supporting local businesses, sustainable organizations and making a difference all while hanging out with friends and free local beer (and soda)? Who doesn't!?! Please join us this Tuesday,...
GrowSmart Maine Testifies in favor of LD 977, “An Act To Restore Uniformity to the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code”
Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in favor of LD 977, “An Act To Restore Uniformity to the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code” March 28, 2013 Senator Patrick, Representative Herbig and members of the Joint...
GrowSmart Maine Testifies in Support of Municipal Planning Assistance Allocation in the Governor’s 2014-2015 Biennial Budget
As a part of our commitment to strengthening Maine’s economy, GrowSmart Maine is particularly enthusiastic about well grounded, thoughtful and creative proposals which seek to grow the economy in a sustainable manner while at the same time preserving our state’s unique character and quality of place. It is within this context that I wish to speak in support of one program at the Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
GrowSmart Maine Testifies in Favor of LD 403, “Resolve, To Establish a Task Force on the Establishment of So called Complete Streets Design Guidelines”
Complete Streets are sound financial investments in our communities that provide long-term benefits from investments. An existing transportation budget can incorporate Complete Streets projects with little to no additional funding, through re-prioritizing projects & allocating funds to projects that improve overall mobility. Many of the ways to create more complete roadways are low cost, fast to implement, and make an immediate difference. According to the National Complete Streets Coalition, building sidewalks and striping bike lanes have been shown to create more jobs than traditional car-focused transportation projects.
GrowSmart Maine Testifies Neither For Nor Against LD 695, “An Act To Amend the Site Location of Development Laws”
As Committee members may be aware, in 2011, GrowSmart Maine was asked by this committee to bring together a stakeholder group to address an issue related to Site Law Review, in LD 159. In our role as convener, GrowSmart Maine invited a diverse group of organizations to evaluate the threshold between state and municipal oversight of regionally significant development. The final report, included with this testimony, outlines two recommendations: