Planning Process
Vision for the Planning Initiative: To create a proactive planning and zoning framework for development and conservation within the Unorganized Territories of Washington County – guided by, customized for, and supported by landowners, businesses and community leaders in the UT and Washington County
The Community Guided Planning and Zoning initiative in the Washington County UT followed the Guiding Criteria from the LUPC Statute (MRSA 12 §685-A) (8-A): Criteria for adoption or amendment of land use district boundaries.
Step 1: assemble/maintain a contact list of those interested in the project (Completed 8-17-2015; additional participants welcome most recent (11-17-2016) list below)
As of Nov 17, 2016 there are 141 individuals involved in the effort with the following 3 levels of involvement:
- a Process Steering Committee (listed in the Process Document) to create the required "Process Document"
- a Planning Committee to meet regularly over a 2-year time frame and who will review draft documents and complete the plan
- a Stakeholders list that includes everyone above as well as those who wish to be kept "in the loop"
Download the list of all Stakeholders (as described above) as of Nov 17, 2016 here. # Updated 11-17-2016 #
If you are interested in serving on any of the Committees or in receiving updates on the Stakeholders list please contact the Supervisor of the Washington County UT Dean Preston (207-255-8919) or Judy East (207-454-0465)
Step 2: assemble a "Process Document" to guide: 
- Overall scope of the planning effort; key issues to be addressed
- Decision making
- Stakeholder involvement
- Criteria for success
- Tribal involvement/consultation
- Roles of LUPC staff and LUPC, UT staff, consultants, Planning Committees, County Commissioners
- Information assembly (data, GIS mapping, inventory & Analysis, asset mapping)
- Amendments
The Process Document was completed on June 23, 2015, approved by the Washington County Commissioners on July 9, 2015 and approved by the Land Use Planning Commission at their August 12, 2015 meeting.
Thank you to the Land Use Planning Commission for contributing funds to hire Frank O'Hara from Planning Decisions Research & Planning to assist in the development of the Process Document.
The Process Document was created in 2 meetings:
Wednesday May 27, 2015 6-8PM: EMA Conference Room - 28 Center Street, Machias
Monday June 15, 2015 4-6PM: Princeton Town Office - 15 Depot Street, Princeton
6-15-15 Minutes # Updated 6-29-15 #
Process Document # Updated 6-29-15 # (June 23, 2015 version for review/approval by the Washington County Commissioners at their July 9, 2015 meeting)
Step 3: develop the plan
The Planning Committee met over the course of 10 meetings from January 2016 through the late winter of 2017. The agendas, meeting minutes and presentation materials used to assist in their deliberations are all posted on the Planning Committee page on this site.
Several opportunities for public input were sought over the course of the Planning effort in the fall of 2015, via an online survey, in several public meetings during the summer and fall of 2016, and finally in the Spring of 2016. The invitations, agendas and meeting summaries of all of those efforts are provided on the Community Outreach page on this site.
The Regional Plan for the Washington County Unorganized Territories was assembled in 5 chapters and several appendices. Drafts and final versions are posted on the Plan Outline ~ Plan Documents page on this site.
Final recommendations will be submitted to the Washington County Commissioners and then to the Land Use Planning Commission in late winter, early Spring of 2017.
Visit the site regularly to see when new materials are posted.