Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/05/2012

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MAINE February 10, 2012 Volume 6 1 No. 3 Zoning Bulletin Reportedly, members of a state task force created to reform the Land Use Regulation Commission ( "LURC ") recently "urged lawmakers ... to quickly pass changes to LURC's structure and rules." "[B]oth Republi- cans and Democrats on the committee said they don't intend to rush a decision." Task force recommendations reportedly include: retaining a statewide land use planning, zoning and permitting board for the Un- organized Territory; rewording LURC's "Purpose and Scope" to value both conservation and economic viability; and shifting major site devel- opment applications in the Unorganized Territory to the Maine Depart- ment of Environmental Protection and forest management activities to the Maine Forest Service. Source: Bangor Daily News; http:llbangordailynews.com NEW JERSEY Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (Republican- Monmouth) recently an- nounced his intent to "introduce a bill that would protect the state's select- ed pot growers from running afoul of zoning laws." Reportedly, O'Scanlon "said many communities in New Jersey have expressed concerns about marijuana farms running afoul of federal law, and have tried to use zon- ing and other tools to block their entry." He contends that "most of the worries are unfounded and have needlessly kept patients from obtaining a drug that would help ease their pain." Among other things, O'Scanlon's bill would reportedly: include marijuana growers under the state's Right to Farm Act; and require the growers to provide around the clock security, spelled out in a written plan approved by the municipality. Source: The: Star Ledger; www. n j. com NEW YORK The New York Civil Liberties Union and the National Lawyers Guild have filed a zoning complaint with New York City's buildings depart- ment. They argue that metal barricades surrounding Manhattan's Zuc- cotti Park (the "epicenter of the Occupy Wall Street Movement ") are "a violation of city zoning law because they restrict public access to the space." Reportedly, members of the public are only able to enter the park through two "checkpoints" that are guarded by police officers or ,security personnel. Source: The Washington Post; www. washingtonpost. com 12 © 2012 Thomson Reuters