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CLUPThe Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) oversees land use planning and development in Maine’s 10.5 million acres of Unorganized Territories (UT), commonly known as the “north woods,” the largest contiguous undeveloped forest in the eastern United States.

Within this region are some of the most iconic and remote natural and recreational resources in the east, including the famous Allagash Wilderness Waterway, St. John River, Moosehead Lake and the 100-Mile Wilderness.  The region is also the “wood basket” for Maine’s forest products industry, thus is the foundation for Maine’s natural resource and tourism-based economy.

LURC was created by the Maine Legislature in 1971 (pdf) in order to “extend principles of sound planning, zoning and subdivision control to the unorganized and deorganized townships of the State… to prevent inappropriate residential, recreational, commercial and industrial uses detrimental to the proper use or value of these areas… to prevent the despoliation, pollution and inappropriate use of the water in these areas; and to preserve ecological and natural values.”

Unfortunately, LURC is under attack. In the 2010 legislative session, a bill was introduced to eliminate LURC altogether, and new legislation (pdf) recently introduced would severely undermine LURC’s ability to properly manage development in Maine’s North Woods. While AMC does not oppose all parts of the legislation, we oppose these specific provisions:
  1. Allowing counties to remove themselves from LURC.
  • This would lead to disjointed standards across what is now one contiguous region, and could eventually lead to the de facto elimination of LURC.
  1. Allowing county commissioners to appoint themselves or others to LURC without any legislative review or oversight.
  • County Commissioners could be susceptible to political influence on important land use decisions, and any new LURC Commissioner should be required to have expertise in the region or important sectors of the region’s economy. Also, the legislature should have oversight and confirm new LURC Commissioners.
  1. Breaking up of permitting from LURC as a “one-stop shop” to potentially three different entities: county government, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and LURC.
  • This would add inefficiency and confusion for land owners and businesses trying to obtain permits.
  1. Removing the “demonstrated need” requirement for development projects.
  • “Demonstrated need” prevents speculative development that is not needed, or could be better provided elsewhere in the region.

This legislation was based on the work of the LURC Reform Commission, which was created after a bill to eliminate LURC altogether could not get passage in the legislature.

To read AMC’s comments to the LURC Reform Commission, click here (pdf) >>

AMC believes that some of the Reform Commission’s proposals have merit, but the provisions listed above would jeopardize LURC’s ability to bring sound planning and ensure appropriate development in Maine’s north woods. 

To find out how you can get involved please contact:

Lindsay Bourgoine
Maine Policy Associate
207-899-0150



Photo by: Marc Chalfour; Pilot: Bryan Wentzell