SACO — The City of Saco is submitting its newly revised comprehensive plan proposal to a state agency for final review.
A comprehensive plan guides public policy in areas including transportation, utilities, land use, recreation, natural resources, public facilities, and housing.
Saco’s comprehensive plan was last updated in 2011.
In October 2016, an effort for a newly revised comprehensive plan began with the formation of an 11-member comprehensive plan committee comprised of representatives from city committees as well as the general public. The committee worked with the city’s Planning and Economic Department as well as the Souther Maine Planning and Development Commission to create a suggested revised comprehensive plan.
The proposed revised comprehensive plan includes updated chapters for the local economy, land use, population and demographics, housing and transportation, and introduces new chapters on sea level rise and arts and culture.
Local goals outlined in the chapter on sea level rise include regulating properties located in flood-prone areas that may be subject to sea level rise and storm surge and implementing a long-term solution to minimize erosion at Camp Ellis.
Strategies to foster and encourage art and culture in the city include promoting the RiverWalk, exploring possibilities for public green space in or near downtown, and explore additional ways that the city and Saco Main Street can work together to promote Saco’s downtown using the Twin Cities Cultural Plan and results of the Bridge 2025 visioning effort as a starting point.
The Planning Board reviewed the document and in January forwarded a positive recommendation to the City Council.
The City Council on Monday night voted to send the proposed revised plan state review to assure that it is consistent with the goals and guidelines of the Growth Management Act.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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