Personal Property Rights and Subdivision Development: Striking a Balance in Hancock County

Second Forum of “Striking a Balance” Series Scheduled for March 31, 2005

The second forum of the “Striking a Balance” forum series has been tentatively scheduled for Thursday evening, March 31, 2005 (time/location to be announced). Major subdivision-related topics included in this forum will be cluster development and affordable housing.

The first forum, held at the White Birches in Ellsworth on September 30, 2004, was funded by a grant through the Maine Community Foundation and attracted nearly 120 participants. The series is a collaborative effort of the Hancock County Planning Commission, Downeast Resource Conservation and Development Council, City of Ellsworth Planning Department, Gouldsboro Planning Board and Union River Watershed Coalition.

Major goals of the “Striking a Balance” forum series are to:

• Raise awareness among various stakeholders about existing laws related to subdivision development at the local and state levels;
• Provide examples of appropriate planning tools and encourage municipal officials to adopt wise development practices in their community;
• Promote constructive dialogue between Hancock County municipal officials (including code enforcement officers, planning board and board of appeals members and elected officials) and those involved in the development/building industry; and
• Develop a strong method for the HCPC to track subdivision development in Hancock County, allowing the HCPC to gauge the rate and type of growth impacting Hancock County and providing a useful tool for municipal, regional and state planning officials.

Towns will be notified once an agenda for the evening program has been finalized. For more information, please contact the Hancock County Planning Commission at 667-7131 or hcpc@hcpcme.org.