Current Legislative Testimony
Learn about GrowSmart Maine’s testimony for various Smart Growth topics below.
PLANNING FOR AG
In Support of LD 2169
An Act To Support The Development Of Workforce Housing To Promote Economic Development In Maine
In Support of LD 2106
An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit
In Support of LD 2053
An Act to Exempt Buildings Used to Cultivate Crops from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
In Support of LD 579
An Act To Support Farmland Conservation
GrowSmart Maine Expands Staff With Two New Hires
GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth, announces the addition of two new members to its team, Joe Oliva, Outreach & Communications Director, and Dayea Shim, Program Coordinator.
In Support Of LD 602
An Act To Provide Regional Support To Deliver State And Federal Programs To Cities And Towns In The State
In Support Of LD 1257
An Act To Increase Housing Capacity And Protect The Municipal Tax Base And Working Lands
In Support Of LD 1672
An Act To Establish An Affordable Housing Permitting Process
In Support of LD 1940
An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth Management Programs in Order to Increase Food Security and Economic Resiliency in Local Communities
In Support Of The Sponsor’s Amendment To LD 1976
An Act to Update the Growth Management Law.
EQUITY
In Support of LD 2169
An Act To Support The Development Of Workforce Housing To Promote Economic Development In Maine
In Support of LD 2106
An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit
In Support of LD 2053
An Act to Exempt Buildings Used to Cultivate Crops from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
In Support of LD 579
An Act To Support Farmland Conservation
GrowSmart Maine Expands Staff With Two New Hires
GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth, announces the addition of two new members to its team, Joe Oliva, Outreach & Communications Director, and Dayea Shim, Program Coordinator.
In Support Of LD 602
An Act To Provide Regional Support To Deliver State And Federal Programs To Cities And Towns In The State
In Support Of LD 1257
An Act To Increase Housing Capacity And Protect The Municipal Tax Base And Working Lands
In Support Of LD 1672
An Act To Establish An Affordable Housing Permitting Process
In Support of LD 1940
An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth Management Programs in Order to Increase Food Security and Economic Resiliency in Local Communities
In Support Of The Sponsor’s Amendment To LD 1976
An Act to Update the Growth Management Law.
CLIMATE & ENERGY
In Support of LD 2169
An Act To Support The Development Of Workforce Housing To Promote Economic Development In Maine
In Support of LD 2106
An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit
In Support of LD 2053
An Act to Exempt Buildings Used to Cultivate Crops from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
In Support of LD 579
An Act To Support Farmland Conservation
GrowSmart Maine Expands Staff With Two New Hires
GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth, announces the addition of two new members to its team, Joe Oliva, Outreach & Communications Director, and Dayea Shim, Program Coordinator.
In Support Of LD 602
An Act To Provide Regional Support To Deliver State And Federal Programs To Cities And Towns In The State
In Support Of LD 1257
An Act To Increase Housing Capacity And Protect The Municipal Tax Base And Working Lands
In Support Of LD 1672
An Act To Establish An Affordable Housing Permitting Process
In Support of LD 1940
An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth Management Programs in Order to Increase Food Security and Economic Resiliency in Local Communities
In Support Of The Sponsor’s Amendment To LD 1976
An Act to Update the Growth Management Law.
BROADBAND
In Support of LD 2169
An Act To Support The Development Of Workforce Housing To Promote Economic Development In Maine
In Support of LD 2106
An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit
In Support of LD 2053
An Act to Exempt Buildings Used to Cultivate Crops from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
In Support of LD 579
An Act To Support Farmland Conservation
GrowSmart Maine Expands Staff With Two New Hires
GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth, announces the addition of two new members to its team, Joe Oliva, Outreach & Communications Director, and Dayea Shim, Program Coordinator.
In Support Of LD 602
An Act To Provide Regional Support To Deliver State And Federal Programs To Cities And Towns In The State
In Support Of LD 1257
An Act To Increase Housing Capacity And Protect The Municipal Tax Base And Working Lands
In Support Of LD 1672
An Act To Establish An Affordable Housing Permitting Process
In Support of LD 1940
An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth Management Programs in Order to Increase Food Security and Economic Resiliency in Local Communities
In Support Of The Sponsor’s Amendment To LD 1976
An Act to Update the Growth Management Law.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In Support of LD 2169
An Act To Support The Development Of Workforce Housing To Promote Economic Development In Maine
In Support of LD 2106
An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit
In Support of LD 2053
An Act to Exempt Buildings Used to Cultivate Crops from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
In Support of LD 579
An Act To Support Farmland Conservation
GrowSmart Maine Expands Staff With Two New Hires
GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth, announces the addition of two new members to its team, Joe Oliva, Outreach & Communications Director, and Dayea Shim, Program Coordinator.
In Support Of LD 602
An Act To Provide Regional Support To Deliver State And Federal Programs To Cities And Towns In The State
In Support Of LD 1257
An Act To Increase Housing Capacity And Protect The Municipal Tax Base And Working Lands
In Support Of LD 1672
An Act To Establish An Affordable Housing Permitting Process
In Support of LD 1940
An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth Management Programs in Order to Increase Food Security and Economic Resiliency in Local Communities
In Support Of The Sponsor’s Amendment To LD 1976
An Act to Update the Growth Management Law.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
In Support of LD 2169
An Act To Support The Development Of Workforce Housing To Promote Economic Development In Maine
In Support of LD 2106
An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit
In Support of LD 2053
An Act to Exempt Buildings Used to Cultivate Crops from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
In Support of LD 579
An Act To Support Farmland Conservation
GrowSmart Maine Expands Staff With Two New Hires
GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth, announces the addition of two new members to its team, Joe Oliva, Outreach & Communications Director, and Dayea Shim, Program Coordinator.
In Support Of LD 602
An Act To Provide Regional Support To Deliver State And Federal Programs To Cities And Towns In The State
In Support Of LD 1257
An Act To Increase Housing Capacity And Protect The Municipal Tax Base And Working Lands
In Support Of LD 1672
An Act To Establish An Affordable Housing Permitting Process
In Support of LD 1940
An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth Management Programs in Order to Increase Food Security and Economic Resiliency in Local Communities
In Support Of The Sponsor’s Amendment To LD 1976
An Act to Update the Growth Management Law.
REGIONAL & LAND USE PLANNING
In Support of LD 2169
An Act To Support The Development Of Workforce Housing To Promote Economic Development In Maine
In Support of LD 2106
An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit
In Support of LD 2053
An Act to Exempt Buildings Used to Cultivate Crops from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
In Support of LD 579
An Act To Support Farmland Conservation
GrowSmart Maine Expands Staff With Two New Hires
GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth, announces the addition of two new members to its team, Joe Oliva, Outreach & Communications Director, and Dayea Shim, Program Coordinator.
In Support Of LD 602
An Act To Provide Regional Support To Deliver State And Federal Programs To Cities And Towns In The State
In Support Of LD 1257
An Act To Increase Housing Capacity And Protect The Municipal Tax Base And Working Lands
In Support Of LD 1672
An Act To Establish An Affordable Housing Permitting Process
In Support of LD 1940
An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth Management Programs in Order to Increase Food Security and Economic Resiliency in Local Communities
In Support Of The Sponsor’s Amendment To LD 1976
An Act to Update the Growth Management Law.
BUDGETS & BONDS
In Support of LD 2169
An Act To Support The Development Of Workforce Housing To Promote Economic Development In Maine
In Support of LD 2106
An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit
In Support of LD 2053
An Act to Exempt Buildings Used to Cultivate Crops from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
In Support of LD 579
An Act To Support Farmland Conservation
GrowSmart Maine Expands Staff With Two New Hires
GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth, announces the addition of two new members to its team, Joe Oliva, Outreach & Communications Director, and Dayea Shim, Program Coordinator.
In Support Of LD 602
An Act To Provide Regional Support To Deliver State And Federal Programs To Cities And Towns In The State
In Support Of LD 1257
An Act To Increase Housing Capacity And Protect The Municipal Tax Base And Working Lands
In Support Of LD 1672
An Act To Establish An Affordable Housing Permitting Process
In Support of LD 1940
An Act to Promote Consistent Policies within Growth Management Programs in Order to Increase Food Security and Economic Resiliency in Local Communities
In Support Of The Sponsor’s Amendment To LD 1976
An Act to Update the Growth Management Law.
TRANSPORTATION
In Support of LD 1752
Resolve, to Prepare Pre Approved Building Types
In Support of LD 1711
An Act to Provide for Safe Roadway Construction Design Criteria
In Support of LD 1556
A Resolve to Establish a Vision Zero Task Force to Recommend Strategies to Achieve the Goal of Eliminating Traffic Fatalities and Serious Injuries
In Support of LD 1559
An Act to Advance the State’s Public Transit Systems by Reinvigorating the Public Transit Advisory Council and Increasing Funding
In Support of LD 1634
An Act to Grant Municipalities the Authority to Set Certain Lower Motor Vehicle Speed Limits Without a Department of Transportation Speed Study
In Support of LD 1076
An Act to Expand the Use of Traffic Cameras for School and Work Zones
In Support of LD 1101
An Act to Support Lower Home Energy Costs by Establishing a Home Energy Scoring System
Support of Nomination of Marguerite Miller Fleming to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority
Read the full testimony here.
Support of LD 1996 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 Testifies in Favor of LD 739, “Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Study Economic Development in Rural Areas”
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. We believe this bill has the potential to do just that.
As a concept bill, this legislation provides the opportunity to discuss an important issue and develop ideas to address potential solutions. As this committee looks at the challenges of economic development and opportunity in rural Maine, I encourage members to look to Charting Maine’s Future: Making Headway, an update to the 2006 Action Plan released by GrowSmart Maine just last year. In all components of the plan, rural issues are addressed with proposals for continued investments, outreach, and collaboration.
Brownfields bill BUILDs a path to neighborhood revitalization
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lautenberg (D-NJ), Inhofe (R-OK), Crapo (R-ID) and Udall (D-NM) introduced legislation last Thursday that could help Maine towns and cities put contaminated land back in to economic use. We urge Senators Collins and King to add...
Lead a Jane Jacobs Walk in your community
6th Annual Jane Jacobs Walks May 4 & 5, 2013 “The ballet of the good city sidewalk never repeats itself from place to place, and in any one place is always replete with new improvisations.” – The Death and Life of Great American Cities Jane...
GrowSmart MaineTestifies in Favor of LD 413, “An Act To Expand Eligible Project Costs in Development Districts”
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. We believe this bill fits that description. This bill will allow for municipal funding of regional efforts in economic development projects. Tax Increment Financing (TIFs) is an extremely powerful economic development tool available to municipalities. It makes great sense to allow this change in the TIF program.
GrowSmart Maine Testifies in opposition to LD 483, “An Act to Promote Small Businesses by Enhancing the Use of On-premises Signs ”
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.
GrowSmart Maine Testifies in Opposition to LD 220 – “An Act to Ban the United Nations Agenda 21 in Maine”
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.
Legislative Update – 2/22/2013
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:
LUPC begins Community-Guided Planning and Zoning in Aroostook County
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.
It Makes a Village – Success in Downtown Norway
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.
Norway Opera House ClockTowerLocated 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.
Community Planning Matters
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.