Hancock County Planning Commission

Initiatives

Hancock County
Planning Commission
Environmental and Solid Waste Planning Services

The Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC) has received for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding to conduct an assessment of potential brownfields sites in Hancock County. This grant has allowed us to hire a consultant to determine if a site has environmental problems and help with the clean-up. This makes a property safe for reuse.

Climate Change

The Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC) will assist towns in Hancock County to prepare policies for reducing green house gas emissions and accomodating climate change. We are working with Maine state agencies and local organizations for climate change prevention and preparedness.

Dark Sky Research and Light Pollution Management

The Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC) will assist towns in Hancock County to prepare policies for protecting the night sky from light pollution. We are working with the Island Astronomy Institute and Maine state agencies to prepare model ordinances and technical assistance documents for night sky preservation.

Groundwater

Hancock County’s Groundwater Supplies Steve Norton Professor Emeritus Department of Earth Sciences Climate Change Institute University of Maine (2.6 MB PDF)
An Overview of Maine Maine’s s Ground Water Resources Robert G. Marvinney State Geologist Maine Geological Survey (6.3 MB PDF)

Low-Impact Development

Tha Hancock County Planning Commission assists towns in identifying low-impact development alternatives, including stormwater management.

Scenic Viewshed Assessment

The Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC) and Washington County Council of Goverments are preparing an inventory of key scenic and historic views as seen from public places in down east coastal towns. This inventory is a major opportunity to identify key scenic views. The results will be useful to communities for updating comprehensive plans, preparing grant applications, creating village improvement strategies, and tourism promotion as well as developing land protection strategies. The inventory will be published in print and online with maps, photographs and recommendations.

Solid Waste and and Recycling Program

HCPC Provides an array of solid waste services to towns in Hancock County. We work with local officials to evaluate and improve transfer station and recycling center management.

HCPC staff can:

Meeting with committees or facility staff to examine management options
Recommend changes in facility layout and design
Work with municipalities and the DEP to complete permit applications
Prepare or amend staff manuals, job descriptions, ordinances or policies
Prepare publicity materials and educational brochures on proposed changes

For More Information Contact Tom Martin at 667-7131 or email at tmartin@hcpcme.org.

2010 Household Hazardous Waste Collection – Greater Ellsworth Region

The 2010 Greater Ellsworth Regional Universal Waste and Household Hazardous Waste Collection is tentatively planned to take place at the Ellsworth High School on Saturday, August 21 from 9:00 to 1:00. Generally accepted materials include household cleaners, mercury-containing items, rechargeable batteries, and various chemical and organic materials. Residents from sponsoring towns will be able to deliver limited quantities of material at no cost. Residents of non-sponsoring communities will be able to participate for a fee.

For more information, please contact your town office or Sherry Churchill at 667-9054 or schurchill@midmaine.com.

Click on the following topics for articles published in the Solid Waste Digest Newsletter:

Produced with funds from the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service program, municipal dues and a County appropriation.

Sustainable Energy Systems

The HCPC provides assistance to Hancock County Towns in evaluating energy alternatives, including:

Analysis of the impacts of utilities lines on communities
Analysis of energy usage by municipal governments
Model ordinances for small energy systems like windmills and solar collectors NOTE: THESE ORDINANCES SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MAINE LAND USE LAW BEFORE BEING ADAPTED FOR USE BY YOUR TOWN.
Sample Ordinances