Planning Webinars for Maine Communities

The Maine Planning Basics Webinar Series

Co-initiated by the Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning at DACF, Maine’s Regional Councils, and the Maine Association of Planners, is intended for those new to the profession and those new to planning in Maine. This program responds to a significant increase in new planners in the State. We aim to provide practitioners with an introductory understanding of land use planning legislation and regulations and the governance context in which planners function in Maine.

Webinar Event Calendar

Training sessions are scheduled for the first Friday of each month from 12 pm to 1:30 pm via Teams. Meeting ID: 227 624 313 81 Passcode: frTWF4

Session Name Featured Speakers Date
Friday January 3, 2025, CANCELED due to the holiday
Community Development Block Grant Basics TerryAnn Holden, Maine DECD Development Program Manager Friday February 7, 2025, 12:00-1:30 pm
TBD TBD Friday March 7, 2025, 12:00-1:30 pm
TBD TBD Friday April 4, 2025, 12:00-1:30 pm

Webinar Archive

Zoning for Rural Communities, 12/6/2024

Join us for a webinar exploring Cape Elizabeth’s Greenbelt Plan and Town Center Plan. Learn how these plans have helped to preserve the rural and natural areas in the town while also intentionally directing development to the town’s center. The examples from Cape Elizabeth can serve as models that other rural communities can follow to create a vibrant town center, a safe and inviting pedestrian and bicycle environment, and linkages to the town’s open space and nearby residential neighborhoods.

Sustainability and Resilience Planning, 11/1/2024

Join us for a webinar to explore the importance of sustainability and resilience planning. Learn how communities can build a more sustainable future by reducing their environmental impact, adapting to climate change, and enhancing their resilience to disasters. Our speakers, Abbie Sherwin, SMPDC Resilience Division Director and Karina Graeter, SMPDC Sustainability Division Director, will discuss best practices, share case studies, and provide valuable insights to help your community thrive in a changing world. Presentation available as PowerPoint and PDF.

MaineDOT Community-Based Initiatives and Active Transportation Planning, 10/4/2024

Join us for an overview of MaineDOT’s role in implementing comprehensive plans at the local level. Dakota Hewlett, MaineDOT’s Active Transportation Planner, will explain how he works with municipalities and partner organizations to plan, fund, and coordinate infrastructure projects that support bicycling and walking in Maine. Mr. Hewlett will discuss recent projects, share best practices, and explain how your community can get involved with MaineDOT’s Community-Based Initiatives. Presentation available as PDF.

MaineDOT Local Road Assistance Program, 9/6/2024

MaineDOT’s Community Services Division distributes over $20 million of highway fund money per year to Maine’s 502 civil divisions through the Local Road Assistance Program (LRAP). Learn from Pete Coughlan, Director of the MaineDOT Community Services Division, who will discuss the following topics related to local road maintenance:

  • The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
  • Federal Functional Classification
  • Local Road Assistance Program payments to municipalities
  • Road System Management Software (RSMS) for inventorying local road conditions and planning/budgeting future road work.
  • Joint purchasing programs
  • Local road design standards
  • Planning local roads for resiliency

Presentation available as PDF.

Best Practices for Comprehensive Planning, 8/2/2024

Comprehensive Planning Best Practices. Hosted by Hancock County Planning Commission and presented by Jay Kamm, Senior Planner with the Northern Maine Development Commission, and Ashley Gamache, Planner II with the Municipal Planning Assistance Program. Presentation available as PowerPoint and PDF.

Lessons Learned from New Planners, 6/7/2024

Listen to a panel discussion with new planners who reflect on their experience working as planners in Maine. Hosted by Hancock County Planning Commission.

Site Plan Review Presentation, 5/3/2024

Learn about the importance of site plan review and its relationship with other reviews, such as subdivision. Hosted by Hancock County Planning Commission and presented by Leah Rachin, an attorney with Drummond Woodsum. Presentation available as PowerPoint and PDF.

Maine DEP Shoreland Zoning Presentation, 3/1/2024

Maine DEP Shoreland Zoning overview presentation. Hosted by Hancock County Planning Commission and presented by Colin Clark, Shoreland Zoning Coordinator, Maine DEP. Presentation available as PowerPoint and PDF.

MaineHousing Presentation, 2/2/2024

MaineHousing overview presentation. Hosted by Hancock County Planning Commission and presented by Dan Brennan, Director of MaineHousing. Presentation available as PowerPoint and PDF.

Subdivision Presentation, 11/3/2023

Maine Subdivision overview presentation. Hosted by Hancock County Planning Commission and presented by Lee Jay Feldman, Director of Land Use and Planning at the Southern Maine Planning & Development Commision. Presentation available as PowerPoint and PDF.

Growth Management Law Presentation, 10/6/2023

Overview presentation of Maine's Growth Managment Law. Hosted by Hancock County Planning Commission and presented by Judy East, Bureau Director, Resource Information and Land Use Planning at DACF. Presentation available as PowerPoint and PDF.

Low Impact Development - It Works Better and Can Cost Less

November 1, 2011

Presented by LaMarr Clannon, Non-Point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO)

Presentation: NEMO Low Impact Development slide presentation

Background Information:
Taking action to protect clean water and cut expenses can become a win-win situation with Low Impact Development (LID) techniques such as green streets, infiltration areas, porous pavement and gravel wetlands. This webinar presents data from the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center on the effectiveness of various treatment techniques in cold climates, and economic case studies on the use of LID techniques in watersheds, both nearby and across the nation.

Developing Resilient Local Communities in a Changing Climate

December 15, 2010

Presented by Malcolm Burson, Associate Director, Policy Services and Climate Adaptation Program Manager, Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Presentation: Developing Resilient Local Communities in a Changing Climate

Background Information:
The webinar introduced the concept of 'resilience' as a lens for assessment and planning and was intended to allow local officials to learn more about key consequences of a changing climate that they may not have considered yet. After a brief review of current information about observed and forecast climatic changes in Maine and potential local impacts, the webinar focused on the need to assess vulnerability and develop forward-looking responses in four critical areas:

  • Public safety and emergency preparedness
  • Public infrastructure, including transportation and drinking/waste/storm water management
  • Public health
  • Local housing and development

A 2009 University of Maine report, Maine's Climate Future has catalogued what we already know about how climate changes are affecting all parts of our state and all sectors of our economy. The 124th Maine legislature requested and, in 2010, received a report, People and Nature Adapting to a Changing Climate: Charting Maine's Course, that outlines initial steps Maine should be taking to build local and state-wide capacity to respond to these changes.

Optional Shoreland Zoning Standards for Areas Adjacent to Great Ponds

November 19, 2010

Presented by Bill LaFlamme, Coordinator, Nonpoint Source Training and Resource Center, Division of Watershed Management, Maine DEP

Presentation: Optional Shoreland Zoning Standards for Greater Protection of Areas Adjacent to Great Ponds

Supporting documents:
Optional Shoreland Zoning Standards For Areas Adjacent to Great Ponds Handout

Background Information: The NPS Training Center develops and implements training workshops; develops and maintains various publications and a video lending library; and acts as a clearinghouse for NPS and BMP information.

This Webinar provides information on what municipalities may wish to adopt to provide additional protection to Great Ponds. Unbeknownst to most municipal officials, current Shoreland Zoning requirements provide only a basic level of protection. These optional standards, many of which are based on DEP's LakeSmart program, are designed to better protect water quality by further minimizing polluted stormwater runoff. This will maintain existing recreational uses of great ponds as well as shorefront property values. The 19 standards promote the maintenance of large undisturbed buffers, the adoption of a phosphorus control ordinance, the use of non-phosphorus fertilizer, the use of erosion and sediment control practices on roads and pathways, and proper maintenance of septic systems. The webinar provides detailed information on each proposed standard and is also an opportunity to provide feedback before the standards are officially released.

Adaptation to Sea Level Rise in Saco Bay

June 17, 2010

Presented by Peter Slovinsky, Coastal Geologist, Maine Geological Survey and J.T. Lockman AICP, Planning Director, Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission

Presentation: Adaptation to Sea Level Rise in Saco Bay (best viewed with Windows Media Player)

Supporting documents:

For More Information Visit: MPAP's Climate Variability webpage.

Place-Based Maine & Form-Based Codes for Planners

May 27, 2010

Presented by: Alan S. Manoian, AICP, Director Planning and Community Development, Town of Bridgton, Maine

Presentation: Place-based Maine & Form-Based Codes for Planners

Background Information:
The following materials are referenced in this presentation:

Place-based Maine & Form-Based Codes: An Introduction to Form Based Codes

April 22, 2010

Presented by: Alan S. Manoian AICP Director Planning and Community Development, Town of Bridgton, Maine

Presentation:
Place-Based Maine & Form-Based Codes (best viewed with Windows Media Player - presentation begins at 00:01:45)

Supporting documents:

Place-Based Maine & Form-Based Codes slide presentation

For More Information Visit: MPAP's Form-Based Codes webpage