Chapter 10. Land Use Districts and Standards [Details]

• Library: Maine Administrative Code
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through 2023-52, December 27, 2023
• Year: 2023

Note: In response to P.L. 2011, ch.599 (enacting LD 1739), in management and protection districts (except for development areas in Resource Plan Protection Subdistricts (P-RP)), the Commission no longer is responsible for regulating timber harvesting, land management roads, water crossings associated with land management roads, and gravel pits less than five acres in size. The regulation of these activities has been transferred to the Maine Forest Service.

A GUIDE TO USING AND UNDERSTANDING THIS DOCUMENT

USING CHAPTER 10

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UNDERSTANDING CHAPTER 10

Sub-Chapter I General Provisions

The General Provisions provide information on some of the Commission's rules of practice. For the typical applicant, the most useful sections of this chapter include Section 10.11 Nonconforming Uses and Structures. Other sections in this Sub-Chapter include: Interpretation of Land Use Standards, Exemptions, Variances, Penalties for Violations, and Appeals.

Sub-Chapter II Land Use Subdistricts

The Commission has established zoning subdistricts to protect important resources and prevent conflicts between incompatible uses. These subdistricts are grouped into three categories: Management, protection, and development subdistricts. Sub-chapter II describes these Land Use Subdistricts and identifies the specific activities that are allowed within each one. Applicants should first identify within which subdistricts their proposed activity is located by referring to a Land Use Guidance Map of the appropriate town, plantation or township. These maps may be obtained from any of the Commission's offices. After the correct subdistricts have been identified, the applicant should determine which of the six categories their proposed activity is listed under in the subdistrict description.

If a proposed activity is located under category:

a. Uses Allowed Without a Permit, the activity may be conducted without any further interaction with the Commission.

b. Uses Allowed Without a Permit Subject to Standards, the applicant must understand and comply with all relevant standards.

c. Uses Requiring a Permit, the applicant must submit a permit application to the Commission. If the Commission approves the application, the applicant must comply with all conditions and standards identified in the permit.

d. Special Exceptions, the...