Planning Commission
Mission and Services
Who We Are:
HCPC is a non-profit voluntary association of local governments formed to help local communities and the Hancock County region by providing community planning and development services to local officials.
Mission Statement
The Hancock County Planning Commission is a partner with local and county government:
- Protecting our heritage and resources,
- Planning for the future
- Promoting a sound economy for the people of Hancock County
Office Hours:
Regarding Major ServicesOpen: Weekdays 9 - 4 and by appointment.
Note: HCPC Office is not always staffed. Please call in advance.395 State Street, Ellsworth, Maine 04605
(Map to HCPC - Located Opposite Friends and Family Market. Look for our sign.)(207) 667-7131/ (207) 667-2099 (fax)
| Budget | Services Policy |
| FY 2023-2024 Budget | FY 2023-2024 Services Policy |
HCPC Guide for Planning Commissioners
Planning boards, boards of appeals, select boards, committees and other officials from member towns are entitled to reasonable use of these services with no charge for professional labor. In cases where extensive use of a particular service is needed, an individual contract can be arranged. HCPC's Services Policy manual explains these opportunities further. Feel free to call us at 667-7131 if you have any questions.
Hancock County Municipal Leaders Database
In order to serve towns in Hancock County better, we request that you
let us know of any changes in local leadership on your select board, planning
board, town staff and so on. Please download the Municipal
Contact Form (Rich Text Format - works in many word processors)
here and mail, fax or email it back to us.
Summary Of Services...
Library and Planning Publications
HCPC Maintains a planning library and vertical files with publications on a wide range of planning methods and resources. Click here for sample holdings.
Brownfields Redevelopment Assistance
We work with towns in identifying brownfields (abandoned industrial or commercial sites that may have contamination problems). We help towns identify such sites and work with interested landowners in seeking funds for the clean-up and marketing of their properties. There are many potential buyers who are interested in redeveloping brownfields sites if the threat of contamination can be removed
Coastal Zone
We are an information source for a variety of coastal zone issues such as harbor management and dredging, mooring plans, floodplain management, and clam flat restoration.
Code Enforcement
We help develop or refine local code enforcement programs. We also provide staff services to the regional code enforcement officer/local plumbing inspector (CEO/LPI) association.
Community Development Block Grants
We are a source of information and grant preparation assistance for the Community Development Block Grant program, which is a potential funding source for community infrastructure, economic development, and housing projects. We can also help you find matching sources of funds.
Data Resources and Mapping
Our library includes population, employment, housing, traffic and land use data. The agency is a U.S. Census affiliate Data Center, which means that we receive many official demographic reports. You can find detailed census reports on our web site in the Public Administration section. We also prepare large-scale digital and/or paper maps using state of the art geographic information systems. HCPC helped to create archival GIS shape files of Hancock County Municipal Tax maps between 2004 and 2011.
Economic Development Planning
We are involved in a variety of economic development planning activities, including sustainable resource management and entrepreneurial training activities. A profile of the region's economy and other features important for business development is available from the HCPC on disk or can be transmitted to interested parties electronically.
Environmental Planning
The HCPC helps towns develop waste management strategies to increase efficiency, recycling and composting. Municipalities can save money by reducing the amount of waste that they pay to incinerate. HCPC can help towns prepare and revise transfer station operations manuals, work with DEP officials on licensing applications, and prepare publicity materials for residents on changes in local solid waste and recycling policy. HCPC can also provide education and assistance for low-impact development projects.
Growth Management
We help towns with all phases of Maine's Growth Management Act, including seeking planning and implementation grants and developing work programs to guide towns through the growth management process.
Health Research and Planning
We help towns and nonprofit organizations assess local health status, identify community assets and prepare strategic plans to create healthy communities. We are partners in the Hancock County Coalition for Community Health. See www.healthyhancock.org for more information.
Joint Purchasing
We coordinate the joint purchasing of road salt, asphalt, and other materials and services for towns.
Lake Watersheds
We have worked with several towns in preparing watershed management plans for lakes and rivers. We can share this information with interested towns. We also help towns obtain funding for more detailed studies of their own.
Land Use and Planning Law
Our staff helps towns interpret state legislation such as the Growth Management Act, Mobile Home Park Law, Shoreland Zoning, Stormwater Management Law, the Natural Resources Protection Act, and the State Subdivision Law. We follow legislative changes in all land use laws and assess the impact of relevant court cases. We have a wealth of ordinances on file from around the county and elsewhere in Maine. We can also tap the resources of the Maine Municipal Association and the American Planning Association, both of which have extensive libraries. We help towns in the actual drafting of ordinances. Also, we have extensive experience helping towns prepare comprehensive plans.
Overboard Discharge/Small Community Grants
We serve as a liaison with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in coordinating the overboard discharge removal program. We also help towns implement the Small Community Grants Program to replace defective septic systems.
Transportation
We help towns find effective solutions to local and regional transportation problems, and assist with applications for state and federal funding. Our staff is experienced in bringing the resources of towns, the Department of Transportation, and the HCPC together in efforts to address a wide range of transportation issues including coordinated improvement schemes to major transportation corridors and development of alternative modes such as ferries and bus transportation.