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Optional Self-Assessment Checklist
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This checklist was developed to ease the preparation of comprehensive plans. Its contents are taken directly from the Comprehensive Plan Review Criteria Rule (07 105 Chapter 208). There are no requirements to submit this checklist for review as it is intended only for the plan preparers.
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Required ElementPage
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Vision Statement that summarizes the community’s desired future community character in terms of economic development, natural and cultural resource conservation, transportation systems, land use patterns and its role in the region.
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Public Participation Summary of the public participation process used by the planning committee in developing the plan pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. §4324. The summary must indicate how information gathered during the public process was used to guide the plan’s vision statement, analyses, policies and strategies.
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Regional Coordination Program summarizing regional coordination efforts to manage shared resources and facilities, including but not limited to lakes, rivers, aquifers, and transportation facilities. The plan must identify any shared resources and facilities, describe any conflicts with neighboring communities’ policies and strategies pertaining to shared resources and facilities and describe what approaches the community will take to coordinate management of shared resources and facilities. In addition, the plan must include a summary of regional coordination efforts from all applicable topic areas.
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Plan Implementation section that prioritizes how implementation strategies will be carried out, pursuant to 30-A MRSA §4326(3). The plan must identify the responsible party and anticipated timeline for each strategy in the plan.
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Evaluation measures that describe how the community will periodically (at least every five years) evaluate the following:
A. The degree to which future land use plan strategies have been implemented;
B. Percent of municipal growth-related capital investments in growth areas;
C. Location and amount of new development in relation to community’s designated growth areas, rural areas, and transition areas (if applicable)
D. Amount of critical natural resource, critical rural, and critical waterfront areas protected through acquisition, easements, or other measures.
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Future Land Use Plan that meets the requirements of Section 4 of Chapter 208. This section will be the focus of the Office’s review for consistency with the Act.
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Comments:
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Historic and Archaeological ResourcesüPage
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Analyses
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Are historic patterns of settlement still evident in the community?
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What protective measures currently exist for historic and archaeological resources and are they effective?
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Do local site plan and/or subdivision regulations require applicants proposing development in areas that may contain historic or archaeological resources to conduct a survey for such resources?
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Have significant historic resources fallen into disrepair, and are there ways the community can provide incentives to preserve their value as an historical resource?
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Condition and Trends
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The community’s Comprehensive Planning Historic Preservation Data Set prepared and provided to the community by the Historic Preservation Commission, and the Office, or their designees.
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An outline of the community's history, including a brief description of historic settlement patterns and events contributing to the development and character of the community and its surroundings.
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An inventory of the location, condition, and use of any historical or archaeological resource that is of local importance.
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A brief description of threats to local historic resource and to those of state and national significance as identified by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.
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Policies
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Protect to the greatest extent practicable the significant historic and archaeological resources in the community.
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Strategies
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For known historic archeological sites and areas sensitive to prehistoric archeology, through local land use ordinances require subdivision or non-residential developers to take appropriate measures to protect those resources, including but not limited to, modification of the proposed site design, construction timing, and/or extent of excavation.
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Adopt or amend land use ordinances to require the planning board (or other designated review authority) to incorporate maps and information provided by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission into their review process.
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Work with the local or county historical society and/or the Maine Historic Preservation Commission to assess the need for, and if necessary plan for, a comprehensive community survey of the community’s historic and archaeological resources.
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Comments:
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Water ResourcesüPage
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Analyses
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Are there point sources (direct discharges) of pollution in the community? If so, is the community taking steps to eliminate them?
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Are there non-point sources of pollution? If so, is the community taking steps to eliminate them?
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How are groundwater and surface water supplies and their recharge areas protected?
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Do public works crews and contractors use best management practices to protect water resources in their daily operations (e.g. salt/sand pile maintenance, culvert replacement street sweeping, public works garage operations)?
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Are there opportunities to partner with local or regional advocacy groups that promote water resource protection?
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Condition and Trends
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The community’s Comprehensive Planning Water Resources Data Set prepared and provided to the community by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Office, or their designees.
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A description of each great pond, river, surface drinking water supply, and other water bodies of local interest including:
a. ecological value;
b. threats to water quality or quantity;
c. documented water quality and/or invasive species problems.
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A summary of past and present activities to monitor, assess, and/or improve water quality, mitigate sources of pollution, and control or prevent the spread of invasive species.
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A description of the location and nature of significant threats to aquifer drinking water supplies.
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A summary of existing lake, pond, river, stream, and drinking water protection and preservation measures, including local ordinances.
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Policies
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To protect current and potential drinking water sources.
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To protect significant surface water resources from pollution and improve water quality where needed.
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To protect water resources in growth areas while promoting more intensive development in those areas.
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To minimize pollution discharges through the upgrade of existing public sewer systems and wastewater treatment facilities.
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To cooperate with neighboring communities and regional/local advocacy groups to protect water resources.
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Strategies
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Adopt or amend local land use ordinances as applicable to incorporate stormwater runoff performance standards consistent with:
a. Maine Stormwater Management Law and Maine Stormwater regulations (Title 38 M.R.S.A. §420-D and 06-096 CMR 500 and 502).
b. Maine Department of Environmental Protection's allocations for allowable levels of phosphorus in lake/pond watersheds.
c. Maine Pollution Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Program
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Consider amending local land use ordinances, as applicable, to incorporate low impact development standards.
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Where applicable, develop an urban impaired stream watershed management or mitigation plan that will promote continued development or redevelopment without further stream degradation.
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Maintain, enact or amend public wellhead and aquifer recharge area protection mechanisms, as necessary.
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Encourage landowners to protect water quality. Provide local contact information at the municipal office for water quality best management practices from resources such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation District, Maine Forest Service, and/or Small Woodlot Association of Maine.
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Adopt water quality protection practices and standards for construction and maintenance of public and private roads and public properties and require their implementation by contractors, owners, and community officials and employees.
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Participate in local and regional efforts to monitor, protect and, where warranted, improve water quality.
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Provide educational materials at appropriate locations regarding aquatic invasive species.
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Comments:
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Natural ResourcesüPage
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Analyses
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Are any of the community’s critical natural resources threatened by development, overuse, or other activities?
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Are local shoreland zone standards consistent with state guidelines and with the standards placed on adjacent shorelands in neighboring communities?
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What regulatory and non-regulatory measures has the community taken or can the community take to protect critical natural resources and important natural resources?
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Is there current regional cooperation or planning underway to protect shared critical natural resources? Are there opportunities to partner with local or regional groups?
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Condition and Trends
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The community’s Comprehensive Planning Natural Resources Data Set prepared and provided to the community by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of Environmental Protection and the Office, or their designees.
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A map or description of scenic areas and scenic views of local importance, and regional or statewide importance, if available.
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Policies
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To conserve critical natural resources in the community.
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To coordinate with neighboring communities and regional and state resource agencies to protect shared critical natural resources.
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Strategies
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Ensure that land use ordinances are consistent with applicable state law regarding critical natural resources.
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Designate critical natural resources as Critical Resource Areas in the Future Land Use Plan.
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Through local land use ordinances, require subdivision or non-residential property developers to look for and identify critical natural resources that may be on site and to take appropriate measures to protect those resources, including but not limited to, modification of the proposed site design, construction timing, and/or extent of excavation.
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Through local land use ordinances, require the planning board (or other designated review authority) to include as part of the review process, consideration of pertinent BwH maps and information regarding critical natural resources.
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Initiate and/or participate in interlocal and/or regional planning, management, and/or regulatory efforts around shared critical and important natural resources.
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Pursue public/private partnerships to protect critical and important natural resources such as through purchase of land or easements from willing sellers.
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Distribute or make available information to those living in or near critical or important natural resources about current use tax programs and applicable local, state, or federal regulations.
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Comments:
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Agricultural and Forest ResourcesüPage
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Analyses
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How important is agriculture and/or forestry and are these activities growing, stable, or declining?
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Is the community currently taking regulatory and/or non-regulatory steps to protect productive farming and forestry lands? Are there local or regional land trusts actively working to protect farms or forest lands in the community?
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Are farm and forest land owners taking advantage of the state's current use tax laws?
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Has proximity of new homes or other incompatible uses affected the normal farming and logging operations?
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Are there large tracts of agricultural or industrial forest land that have been or may be sold for development in the foreseeable future? If so, what impact would this have on the community?
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Does the community support community forestry or agriculture (i.e. small woodlots, community forests, tree farms, community gardens, farmers’ markets, or community-supported agriculture)? If so, how?
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Does the community have town or public woodlands under management, or that would benefit from forest management?
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Condition and Trends
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The community’s Comprehensive Planning Agriculture and Forestry Data Set prepared and provided to the community by the Department of Agriculture, the Maine Forest Service, and the Office, or their designees.
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A map and/or description of the community’s farms, farmland, and managed forest lands and a brief description of any that are under threat.
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Information on the number of parcels and acres of farmland, tree growth, and open space enrolled in the state’s farm, tree growth, and open space law taxation programs, including changes in enrollment over the past 10 years.
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A description of any community farming and forestry activities (e.g. community garden, farmer’s market, or community forest).
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Policies
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To safeguard lands identified as prime farmland or capable of supporting commercial forestry.
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To support farming and forestry and encourage their economic viability.
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Strategies