Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §3331, sub-§8 is enacted to read:

8.__Growth management pilot projects.__The council shall set up and conduct a pilot project program to provide incentives for coordinated multimunicipal development by permitting 2 or more municipalities to share the costs and benefits of development.__ The council may approve up to 5 pilot projects by certifying the municipalities to receive priority for state transportation infrastructure funding, growth management planning and implementation grants, community development block grants awarded under section 13073 and Municipal Investment Trust Fund grants awarded under Title 30-A, section 6006-D.__The council shall report on the implementation of the pilot projects to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters by January 1, 2003.

Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §4349-A, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:

3-A.__Preference for certified growth management pilot projects.__When awarding grants or assistance for transportation infrastructure funding, growth management planning and implementation grants, Municipal Investment Trust Fund grants awarded under section 6006-D and community development block grants awarded under Title 5, section 13073, a state agency shall give preference to a municipality that receives certification from the Land and Water Resources Council that the municipality meets the requirements of a pilot project pursuant to Title 5, section 3331, subsection 8.

SUMMARY

This bill implements a recommendation of the Joint Study Committee to Study Growth Management. It directs the Land and Water Resources Council to set up a pilot project program to provide incentives for towns to work together on development issues by giving them the opportunity to share costs and benefits of development. Under the bill, towns that are certified by the council as meeting the requirements of the pilot project program are eligible to receive priority in state transportation funding, growth management funding, Municipal Investment Trust Fund grants and community development block grants.