Planning Commission
Mission and Services
Who We Are:Open: Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 4:30
395 State Street, Ellsworth, Maine 04605
(Opposite Falls Food Market. Look for our sign.)(207) 667-7131/ (207) 667-2099 (fax)
HCPC is a non-profit voluntary association of local governments formed to help local communities and the Hancock County region by providing community planning and development services to local officials.
Mission Statement
The Hancock County Planning Commission is a partner with local and county government:
- Protecting our heritage and resources,
- Planning for the future and
- Promoting a sound economy for the people of Hancock County.
Planning boards, boards of appeals, select boards, committees and other officials from member towns are entitled to reasonable use of these services with no charge for professional labor. In cases where extensive use of a particular service is needed, an individual contract can be arranged. HCPC's Services Policy manual explains these opportunities further. Feel free to call us at 667-7131 if you have any questions.
Hancock County Municipal Leaders Database
In order to serve towns in Hancock County better, we request that you
let us know of any changes in local leadership on your select board, planning
board, town staff and so on. Please download the Municipal
Contact Form (Rich Text Format - works in many word processors)
here and mail, fax or email it back to us.
Summary Of Services...
Library and Planning Publications
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
HCPC Maintains a planning library and vertical files with publications on a wide range of planning methods and resources. Click here for sample holdings.
Brownfields Redevelopment Assistance
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
We work with towns in identifying brownfields (abandoned industrial or
commercial sites that may have contamination problems). We help towns
identify such sites and work with interested landowners in seeking
funds for the clean-up and marketing of their properties. There are
many potential buyers who are interested in redeveloping brownfields
sites if the threat of contamination can be removed
Coastal Zone
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
We are an information source for a variety of coastal zone issues such
as harbor management and dredging, mooring plans, floodplain management,
and clam flat restoration.
Code Enforcement
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
We help develop or refine local code enforcement programs. We also provide
staff services to the regional code enforcement officer/local plumbing
inspector (CEO/LPI) association.
Community Development Block Grants
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
We are a source of information and grant preparation assistance for the
Community Development Block Grant program, which is a potential funding
source for community infrastructure, economic development, and housing
projects. We can also help you find matching sources of funds.
Data Resources and Geographic Information Systems
(Contact person: Jim Fisher)
Our library includes population, employment, housing, traffic and land
use data. The agency is a U.S. Census affiliate Data Center, which means
that we receive many official demographic reports. You can find detailed
census reports on our web site in the Public
Administration section. We also prepare large scale maps using state
of the art geographic information systems.
Economic Development Planning
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
We are involved in a variety of economic development planning activities,
including sustainable resource management and entrepreneurial training
activities. A profile of the region's economy and other features important
for business development is available from the HCPC on disk or can be
transmitted to interested parties electronically.
Environmental Planning
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
The HCPC helps towns develop waste management strategies to increase
efficiency, recycling and composting. Municipalities can save money by
reducing the amount of waste that they pay to incinerate. HCPC can help
towns prepare and revise transfer station operations manuals, work with
DEP officials on licensing applications, and prepare publicity materials
for residents on changes in local solid waste and recycling policy. HCPC
can also provide education and assistance for low-impact development
projects.
Growth Management
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
We help towns with all phases of Maine's Growth Management Act, including
seeking planning and implementation grants and developing work programs
to guide towns through the growth management process.
Health Research and Planning
(Contact person: Jim Fisher)
We help towns and nonprofit organizations assess local health status,
identify community assets and prepare strategic plans to create healthy
communities. We are partners in the Hancock County Coalition for Community
Health. See www.healthyhancock.org for
more information.
Joint Purchasing
(Contact person: Sheri Walsh)
We coordinate the joint purchasing of road salt, asphalt, and other materials
and services for towns.
Lake Watersheds
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
We have worked with several towns in preparing watershed management plans
for lakes and rivers. We can share this information with interested towns.
We also help towns obtain funding for more detailed studies of their
own.
Land Use and Planning Law
(Contact person: Tom Martin)
Our staff helps towns interpret state legislation such as the Growth
Management Act, Mobile Home Park Law, Shoreland Zoning, Stormwater Management
Law, the Natural Resources Protection Act, and the State Subdivision
Law. We follow legislative changes in all land use laws and assess the
impact of relevant court cases. We have a wealth of ordinances on file
from around the county and elsewhere in Maine. We can also tap the resources
of the Maine Municipal Association and the American Planning Association,
both of which have extensive libraries. We help towns in the actual drafting
of ordinances. Also, we have extensive experience helping towns prepare
comprehensive plans.
Overboard Discharge/Small Community Grants
(Contact person: Sheri Walsh)
We serve as a liaison with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection
in coordinating the overboard discharge removal program. We also help
towns implement the Small Community Grants Program to replace defective
septic systems.
Transportation
(Contact person: Jim Fisher)
We help towns find effective solutions to local and regional transportation
problems, and assist with applications for state and federal funding.
Our staff is experienced in bringing the resources of towns, the Department
of Transportation, and the HCPC together in efforts to address a wide
range of transportation issues including coordinated improvement schemes
to major transportation corridors and development of alternative modes
such as ferries and bus transportation.
Our Staff:
| Thomas E. Martin, AICP Executive Director tmartin@hcpcme.org |
 |
| Jim Fisher, AICP Senior Planner jfisher@hcpcme.org |
 |
| Sheri Walsh Administrative Assistant hcpc@hcpcme.org |
 |
Our Executive Board:
- Roderic Franzius, Chairperson
- Dave Milan, Vice Chair
- Raymond Jones, Treasurer
- Beverly Sanborn, Secretary
- Dale Abernethy
- Dale Sprinkle
- Charlie Wiggins
- C. W. Comer
- Joe Kitchen
- Peter Colman
- Steve Walton, County Commissioner Representative
- Janet Michaud, County Commissioner Representative