KENNEBUNKPORT PERMANENT
GROWTH PLANNING COMMITTEE ORDINANCE
1. PURPOSES
State law requires that land use regulations of the Town be adopted pursuant to a comprehensive plan. Such comprehensive plan, including policy statements, goals, standards, and pertinent data, requires a constant dialogue and exchange of ideas and materials between a board and the governing body of the Town so that significant municipal decisions are made on the basis of fact.
Currently the Planning Board is unable to commit the time necessary to undertake the inquiry and analysis to make the findings and recommendations necessary for thorough planning. This ordinance establishes a permanent committee to undertake such inquiry and analysis and to make findings and recommendations to the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen in order to continually update and maintain the comprehensive plan.
2. COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED
A. There is hereby established a Growth Planning Committee to be composed of 7 members appointed by the Selectmen. In making appointments, the Selectmen shall consider the experience of individuals in land use, housing, transportation, capital planning, economics, water resources, social patterns, and other areas which should be considered in formulating and maintaining the comprehensive plan.
B. Initial appointments to the committee shall be on a staggered basis so that the term of 1 person expires in 4 years, the terms of 2 people expire in 3 years, the terms of 2 people expire in 2 years, and the terms of 2 people expire in 1 year. Thereafter, terms shall be for a period of 3 years.
C. Annually, at the first meeting of the committee after the annual town meeting, the committee shall elect a chairman and a clerk. After such election the committee shall establish an agenda for the coming year, with timetables for the completion of goals and objectives during such year.
D. The committee shall meet twice each month, and at such other times as deemed necessary by a majority.
E. No later than November 30th of each year the committee shall submit to the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen a report of its activities, any recommendations for inclusions or modifications to the comprehensive plan, and any ordinances or amendments to ordinances to achieve goals or objectives stated in the recommendations. By preamble to any proposed ordinance submitted to the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen, the committee may set forth goals, policy statements or other pertinent materials expressing findings and conclusions supporting the ordinance. If the proposed ordinance is adopted, such preamble, as it may be
modified prior to enactment of the ordinance, shall be deemed part of the comprehensive plan to the end that such ordinance or amendment shall be enacted “pursuant to the comprehensive plan”.
F. In preparing its annual report to the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen and any proposed ordinances or amendments, the committee shall ensure that the public is given an adequate opportunity to be heard.
G. The Planning Board and all other municipal officers, employees, boards and commissions shall cooperate with the committee, so that the continuous data-gathering, analysis and review to be undertaken by the committee may provide a continually updated comprehensive plan.
H. Any proposed actions affecting the comprehensive plan, including any amendments to the Land Use Ordinance and any long range capital expenditure plans, shall be submitted to the Growth Planning Committee prior to presentation to any Town meeting, for the committee’s review and recommendations.
I. Any amounts unspent from the amount appropriated at the 1986 annual Town Meeting for the Growth Planning Committee established at such meeting shall not lapse but shall be transferred to an account for use by the Growth Planning Committee. After adoption of this ordinance, the committee shall be subject to administrative supervision by the Town Manager.
Adopted March 22, 1986. Amended March 24, 1987 and March 26, 1988.
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