Return to Documents Page
LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT TRENDS IN HANCOCK COUNTY
- Statewide, between 1970 and 1990 the acreage of land developed in Maine occurred at four times the rate of population increase.
- Growth rates in Hancock County exceed the state average. While the state’s year-round population increased by about 28 percent between 1970 and 2000, Hancock County’s grew by about 50 percent.
- This growth rate does not reflect the impact of second homes, whose numbers almost doubled in 30 years. In 1970, there were an estimated 5,536 second homes compared to 10,672 in 2000.
- While Hancock County has been growing rapidly, only 20 of the 37 municipalities in the county have town-wide zoning. Only two to three have land use ordinances that are consistent with the State Planning Office guidelines. A good portion of those that are not consistent could be subject to legal challenge under the current state law.
- Two towns have town planners, another has a planning assistant. The rest rely largely on planning boards to review development proposals.
- Growth in Hancock County has been very uneven. For example, Mount Desert Island’s year-round population increased by 7 percent between 1990 and 2000 while the inland towns of Otis and Mariaville saw increases of approximately 50 percent.
- Even slow growing towns face development pressures. For example, Winter Harbor and Gouldsboro both lost year-round population between 1990 and 2000, but saw increases in their year-round housing stock of 15 percent and 6.5 percent respectively and a roughly 14 percent increase in the number of second homes in both towns.
- The high demand for second homes means that waterfront and water view properties continue to be developed. This poses a challenge for local planning boards since many marginal properties are now being developed.
HOW IS SPRAWL AFFECTING HANCOCK COUNTY?
- Towns are seeing more subdivisions occurring in remote areas that have poor emergency vehicle and school bus access.
- Commercial development continues to occur along major highways resulting in increased traffic congestion.
- The high cost of housing along the coast has forced more people to commute from inland communities.
RESOURCES PRESENTLY AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS LAND USE ISSUES
- There are comprehensive planning, comprehensive plan update and related grants available from the State Planning Office.
- The Hancock County Planning Commission provides general technical assistance to towns on questions about land use ordinances.
- The Maine Municipal Association has attorneys who can answer questions on the legal aspects of land use regulation.
- Most land use planning in Hancock County has focused on the municipal level. There has been very little multi-town or regional effort at planning.
- There are increasing amounts of land use data available from the Hancock County Planning Commission and various state agencies through GIS (Geographic Information Systems) computerized mapping.