Comprehensive Planning

Call for municipalities needing Comp Plan Data

From the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Municipal Planning Assistance Program:

If your community requested comprehensive planning data for the preparation/update of a comprehensive plan, please follow the links below.

• The majority of comprehensive plan data for all towns is always available at: arcg.is/0nr9ab
• The town specific data for the communities who requested data is posted at: www.maine.gov/dacf/municipalplanning/comp_plans/planning_data.shtml. These zip files now only contain data for Forestry (MFS), Historic Resources (MHPC), and Water Resources (DHHS & DEP). By making this request it also prompts the Beginning with Habitat program to update and post additional natural resource data to its website that is specific to your community.

Please contact Tom Miragliuolo  (Tom.Miragliuolo@maine.gov) if you have any questions relating to this data.

Comprehensive Plans

Why Create A Comprehensive Plan (PDF)

KVCOG can assist with the creation and update of Municipal Comprehensive Plans to meet the towns long term planning goals and the State level requirements for Plans. Services range from basic information and guidance to a full service contract option at a subsidized membership rate to create a new plan for a community.

Why create a Comprehensive Plan?

Communities complete Comprehensive Plans for a variety of reasons. At their most basic level, communities complete Comprehensive Plans to prepare for the future. A comprehensive review of community issues and policies promotes discussion among neighbors and can help communities avoid problems that sometimes occurs when community decisions are made in a piecemeal fashion.
A comprehensive plan is a guide to the future for the town. It is not an ordinance or a set of rules, it is instead a guide for the town government to move in the direction the people want. It provides a map indicating what direction the town wants to go in over the next 10 years, and it also provides a “snapshot in time” of the town.
Good planning makes good communities.

A good Comprehensive Plan should enable a community to:
• Sustain rural living and a vibrant village center.
• Preserve a healthy landscape and a walkable community.
• Balance economic prosperity with quality of life
• Protect working waterfronts and/or community farms.
• Develop a discussion among neighbors.
• Develop a basis for sound decisions in town management.

Financial Incentives

State Law and various agencies have established incentives for communities to develop Comprehensive Plans. Over $80 million is awarded through 25 state grant and loan programs that either require or encourage applicants to have a consistent comprehensive plan. These include:

• DECD Funds / Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
  -Housing Assistance - $500,000
  -Home Repair Network - $1million
  -Public Infrastructure - $1million
  -Downtown Revitalization - $300,000
  -Public Service Grant - $50,000

• Land for Maine’s Future - Multiple grants of $25,000

• Land and Water Conservation Fund - $500,000

• MDEP 319(h) Non-Point Source Protection Grants - $50,000 - $150,000

• DEP State Revolving Loan Fund - $200,000

• MDOT Village Partnership Initiative – Varies by Project but at least $50,000+

• MDOT Stream Crossing grant - $200,000

More than $4 million is available to towns with a consistent Comprehensive Plan!!!

In summary a Comprehensive Plan is there to encourage orderly growth and development in appropriate areas of the community, while protecting the towns rural character, making efficient use of public services and preventing any development sprawl.

Brighton Plantation

KVCOG is currently assisting Brighton Plantation with updating their Comprehensive Plan. Below you will find drafts of the chapters for public review as they are approved by the Comprehensive Plan committee.

• Brighton Plantation Comprehensive Plan Brochure (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation 1995 Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Ordinances (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Vision Statement - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Community Profile - Final (PDF)
• Local Economy - Final (PDF)
• Historic Resource Policies & Strategies (PDF)
• Historic Resources Draft - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Ag/Forestry Policies and Strategies - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Ag/Forestry - Final.pdf (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Transportation Policies and Strategies (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Transportation - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Fiscal Capacity - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Fiscal Capacity Policies and Strategies (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Existing Land Use Draft - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Future Land Use Plan Policies and Strategies (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Future Land Use (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Housing - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Housing Policies and Strategies (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Natural Resources Policies and Strategies (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Natural Water Resources Draft - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Public Facilities and Services - Final (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Public Facilities Policies and Strategies (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Recreation Policies and Strategies (PDF)
• Brighton Plantation Recreation Chapter - Final (PDF)

If you have any questions or comments on the chapter drafts or on the Comprehensive Plan process, you may reach out to Melanie Weston at mweston@kvcog.org or by phone at 207-453-4258 ext. 222.

Completed Regional Projects

• WINTHROP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 6/18/24 (PDF)
• WINSLOW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2/1/24 (PDF)
• READFIELD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 9/15/23 (PDF)
• ROME COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 5/17/23 (PDF)
• CHINA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 7/27/21 (PDF)
• OLD CANADA ROAD NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN (PDF)
• OCR CMP APPENDICES (PDF)
• North Pond WATERSHED-BASED MANAGEMENT PLAN (2024-2033) (PDF)
• Route 2 (east) CMP 2020
• Evaluation and Recommendations for High Crash Locations in Kennebec County 2017 (PDF)
• Evaluation and Recommendations for High Crash Locations in Somerset County 2017 (PDF)
• Multi-modal Corridor Management Plan For the Lower Kennebec Corridor (PDF)
• Multi-modal Corridor Management Plan For the Upper Kennebec Corridor
• 2015 Kennebec Valley Regional Bicycle Plan (PDF)
• Multi-Modal Corridor Management Plan For the Somerset East-west Corridor