The Maine State Planning Office (SPO) was created by the Legislature in 1968 as part of Maine's Executive Department. Its mission was to help build a sustainable future for Maine's communities, businesses and residents. The State Planning Office had four core duties assigned to it by statute that included coordinating the development of the state's economy and energy resources with the conservation of its natural resources; providing technical assistance to the Governor and Legislature by undertaking special studies and plans and preparing policy alternatives; providing technical assistance to towns and regions; and conducting continuing economic analyses, including economic forecasting. The Maine State Planning Office was eliminated effective July 1, 2012.
Note: Many state documents are offered in PDF format. To view PDF documents, you will need the free Adobe Reader. If you need assistance, view our Maine government PDF Help page or contact the contributing Maine State agency via the link on the left sidebar under “Links”.
Submissions from 2012
2012 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 2011
2011 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office
Four-Year Growth Management Program Evaluation. 2011, Maine State Planning Office
How To Prepare a Land Use Ordinance: a Manual for Local Officials 2011, Maine State Planning Office
Maine Coastal Plan : Assessment and Strategy Under Section 309 of the Coastal Zone Management Act, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 2010
2010 LD 1 Progress Report, Maine State Planning Office
2010 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office
Keeping Maine’s Forest-Based Economy: A National Demonstration Project, 2010, Maine State Planning Office and Joel Johnson
Submissions from 2009
2009 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office
Creating Traditional, Walkable Neighborhoods: A Handbook for Maine Communities. 2009, Maine State Planning Office
Final report of the Ocean Energy Task Force to Governor John E. Baldacci, Maine Ocean Energy Task Force
Model Wind Energy Facility Ordinance. 2009, Maine State Planning Office
Report on the Costs and Benefits of State and Local Options to Stimulate an Increase in the Recycling of Plastics. 2009, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 2008
2008 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office
Regional Landscape Conservation in Maine : Best Practices for Enhancing Quality of Place, Brett Richardson
Scenic Assessment Handbook 2008, Maine State Planning Office, Maine Coastal Program, and Terry DeWan
Submissions from 2007
2007 Report on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office
Four-year Growth Management Program Evaluation. 2007, Maine State Planning Office
LD 1: Second-Year Impact on Tax Burden, 2007, Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services and Maine Revenue Services
LID Guidance Manual for Maine Communities: Approaches for Implementation of Low Impact Development Practices at the Local Level. 2007, Maine State Planning Office, Maine Coastal Program, and Horsley Witten Group
Maine's Aging Population: A Survey of Potential Economic Implications, 2007, Maine State Planning Office and Crystal Callahan
People, Place, and Prosperity : 1st Report of the Governor’s Council on Maine’s Quality of Place, Governor’s Council on Maine’s Quality of Place and Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 2006
An Evaluation of the Growth Management Act and its Implementation. 2006, Maine State Planning Office
LD 1: First Year of Progress 2005, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 2005
2005 Report Card on Poverty, Maine State Planning Office
Comprehensive Planning: A Manual for Maine Communities. 2005, Maine State Planning Office, Evan Richert, and Sylvia Most
Maine Economic & Demographic Trends, 2005, Maine State Planning Office and Galen Rose
Regulating Adult Entertainment Establishments in Maine. 2005, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 2004
2003 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office
Energy Resources Council 2004 Work Plan and Report to the Legislature, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Energy Resources Council
Maine’s Biggest Industries; Structural Overview of the Maine Economy, June 2004, Maine State Planning Office and Galen Rose
Revitalizing Maine’s Downtowns. 2004, Maine State Planning Office
The Great American Neighborhood: Contemporary Design Principles for Building Livable Residential Communities. 2004, Maine State Planning Office, Terrence J. DeWan & Associates, and Kent Associates
Tracking Commercial Fishing Access: A Survey of Harbormasters in 25 Maine Coastal Communities, Elizabeth Sheehan and Hugh Cowperthwaite
Submissions from 2003
2002 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office
30 & 1000 : A Progress Report : Our Knowledge-based Economy Development Strategy, Maine State Planning Office
A Brief History of the Maine Economy, 2003, Maine State Planning Office and Galen Rose
Community Visioning Handbook: How to Imagine and Create a Better Future. 2003, Maine State Planning Office
Financing Infrastructure Improvements through Impact Fees: A Manual for Maine Municipalities on the Design and Calculation of Development Impact Fees. 2003, Maine State Planning Office
Land Stewardship Incentives and Education Project, Gwendolyn Hilton
Maine Energy Policy Overview and Opportunities for Improvement, 2003, Energy Advisors, LLC and Maine Energy Resources Council
Markets for Traditional Neighborhoods in Midcoast Maine. Summary Report. 2003, Maine State Planning Office
Updating Your Comprehensive Plan: 50 Recommendations for Making Plan Updates More Effective. 2003, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 2002
2001 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office
An Outcome-Based Approach To a Rational Tax System, 2002, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance
An Outcome-Based Approach to Rational Tax Reform: Op-Ed by Laurie G. Lachance, State Economist, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance
A Review of Effectiveness of the Maine Coastal Plan in Meeting the State's Public Access and Working Waterfront Policy Goals : A Report from the Land and Water Resources Council to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources of the 121st Maine Legislature, First Regular Session, Maine Land and Water Resources Council
Coastal Water Access Priority Areas for Boating and Fishing
Final report of the Maine Millennium Commission on Hunger and Food Security, 2002, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Millennium Commission on Hunger and Food Security
GIS Needs Assessment & Requirements Analysis and Strategic Plan to Develop the Maine Public Library of Geographic Information, 2002, Maine State Planning Office; Applied Geographics, Inc; CDM; and GIS Mapping & Analysis, Inc.
Indicators of Livable Communities : A Report on Smart Growth and the Impact of Land Use Decisions on Maine's Communities, Environment and Countryside, Darcy Rollins, Maine Development Foundation, and Land and Water Resources Council
Maine Coastal Program accomplishments, 2000 and 2001
Maine Guide to Federal Consistency Review (June 2002), Maine Coastal Program
Preserving Commercial Fishing Access : A Study of Working Waterfronts in 25 Maine Communities, Elizabeth Sheehan and Hugh Cowperthwaite
Reducing Household Energy Consumption in Maine: What it Would Take to Achieve a 25% Reduction by 2011 (2002), Maine State Planning Office and Patricia J. Hart
Submissions from 2001
2000 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office
Casco Bay Watershed Wetlands Characterization, Elizabeth Hertz and Jackie Sartoris
Coastlinks : A Resource Guide to Maine's Coastal Organizations (2001), Lorraine Lessard and Paul Dest
Maine State Wetlands Conservation Plan (2001), Maine State Planning Office
Making Schools Important to Neighborhoods Again. 2001, Maine State Planning Office
Report On An Education Strategy for Public Water Supply Protection Aimed at Municipalities and the General Public. 2001, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Land and Water Resources Council
Report on the Use of Incentives to Keep Land in Productive Farming, Fishing and Forestry Use. 2001, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Land and Water Resources Council
Speech of Laurie G. Lachance Maine State Economist to the Blaine House Conference on Tourism, 2001, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance
The Economy: Treading on Thin Ice, Perception or Reality? 2001, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance
Submissions from 2000
1999 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office
Maine's Right-of-Way Discovery Grant Program, Maine Coastal Program
Presentation of Laurie G. Lachance, State Economist To the Maine Policy Leaders Academy January 12, 2000, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance
State of Maine Climate Change Action Plan, 2000, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 1999
1998 Annual Report Card on Poverty in Maine, Maine State Planning Office
A Golden Opportunity II: How Maine Can Enhance the Retirement Industry, 1999, Maine State Planning Office
A Summary of the Findings of Studies Regarding a Maine East-West Highway, 1999, Maine Department of Transportation and Maine State Planning Office
Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase III Technical Report, Economic Impacts, 1999, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Department of Transportation
Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase II Technical Report, Survey Research and Commodity Forecasts, 1999, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Department of Transportation
Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase I Technical Report, Baseline Conditions, 1999, Maine State Planning Office; Maine Department of Transportation; and RKG Associates, Inc.
Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase IV Technical Report, Case Study Research, 1999, Maine State Planning Office and Maine Department of Transportation
Markets for Traditional Neighborhoods: An Analysis of a Survey of Recent Homebuyers in Maine, 1999, Maine State Planning Office
Markets for Traditional Neighborhoods: An Analysis of a Survey of Recent Homebuyers in Maine. 1999, Maine State Planning Office
Pathways to a Sustainable Future: A Curriculum Guide for Schools Exploring Waste Management Issues. 1999, Michael Heath, Andy Barker, Tom Bertocci, Maine State Planning Office, and Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Why Households Move: Two Maine Surveys, 1999, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 1998
Improving Maine's Beaches : Recommendations of the Southern Maine Beach Stakeholder Group
Issues Facing the Maine Economy, 1998, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance
Submissions from 1997
Atlantic Salmon Conservation Plan for Seven Maine Rivers, Maine Atlantic Salmon Task Force
Maine Counties Selected Economic Measures History and Forecasts, 1997, Maine State Planning Office
Preliminary Proposal to Relieve Property Taxes Through Reform of Governmental Regulations, 1997, Maine State Planning Office and Task Force on Intergovernmental Structure
Retail Sales Annual Data 1992-1996, Maine State Planning Office
Site Plan Review Handbook: a Guide to Developing a Site Plan Review System. 1997, Maine State Planning Office
Telecommunications and Economic Development: Making the Connection in Maine, 1997, Maine State Planning Office
The Cost of Sprawl, 1997, Maine State Planning Office
The Maine Economy: Facing the Challenge, 1997, Maine State Planning Office and Laurie G. Lachance
The Maine Economy: Year-End Review and Outlook 1996, Maine State Planning Office
The Maine Economy: Year-End Review and Outlook 1996, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 1996
Great Pond Task Force Preliminary Recommendations* For Public Comment, 1996, Maine State Planning Office
Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of Maine : A Survey of Marine Users and Other Interested Parties, Sam Brody
Strategic Planning and Performance Budgeting : Orientation Handbook, Maine State Planning Office, Maine Bureau of the Budget, and Maine Office of State Training & Quality
Submissions from 1994
Exploring Limits : Making Decisions About the Use & Development of Maine's Islands, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 1993
An Ecological Reserves System for Maine : Benchmarks in a Changing Landscape, Janet McMahon
Kennebec River Resource Management Plan, Maine State Planning Office
Maine Land in Federal, State, Municipal, and Non-profit Conservation Ownership : A Guide to the Maps, Maine State Planning Office and Richard D. Kelly Jr
Submissions from 1992
Maine Comprehensive Power Plan, Maine State Planning Office and Betsy Elder
Waterways : Links to the Sea; An Activity Guide for Grade 3-5 Teachers on Cleaning Up Coastal Waters, Maine Coastal Program, Shore Stewards Partnership, Cynthia Krum, and Flis Schauffler
Submissions from 1991
Formalizing the Gulf of Maine Initiative: Institutional Arrangements for Implementing the Gulf of Maine Initiative, Marine Law Institute, University of Maine School of Law and Michele Dorsey
The Special Commission on Governmental Restructuring, Final Report, December 15, 1991, Special Commission on Governmental Restructuring, Maine State Planning Office, and Executive Director of the Legislative Council
Submissions from 1989
Charting Our Course : An Activity Guide for Grades 6-12 on Water Quality in the Gulf of Maine, Maine State Planning Office, Maine Coastal Program, Cynthia Krum, Flis Shauffler, Ba Rea, and John Kramer
Marine Environmental Quality Monitoring Programs in the Gulf of Maine : An Inventory, Maine State Planning Office
The Gulf of Maine : Sustaining our Common Heritage : Maine, Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, Maine State Planning Office, Katrina Van Dusen, and Anne C. Johnson Hayden
Submissions from 1987
Critical Areas Program List of Publications 1975 to 1987
Pitch Pine / Scrub Oak Barrens in Maine, Lissa Widoff
The Penobscot Bay Conservation Plan, Maine State Planning Office, Susan Woodward, Alan Hutchinson, and Mark McCollough
Submissions from 1986
Streamside Protective Corridors : Techniques for Weighing Costs and Benefits, Lloyd C. Irland
Submissions from 1985
Natural Resources Inventory and Critical Area Survey of T. 15 R. 9, Mark J. Kern
Submissions from 1984
Vocational Training in Maine : Assessing Responsiveness to the Labor Market and to Economic Development Needs, Lloyd C. Irland
Submissions from 1983
Natural Old-Growth Forest Stands in Maine and its Relevance to the Critical Areas Program, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 1982
A Just and Reasonable Price : State Cartelization of Maine's Milk Industry, State Planning Office and Lloyd C. Irland
Surveying Natural Areas on Maine's Public Lands, Lloyd C. Irland and Harry R. Tyler Jr.
Submissions from 1981
A Natural Resource Inventory and Critical Areas Survey of Squa Pan Public Lot, Caren Caljouw and Sarah Roeske
Submissions from 1978
A More Responsive Government : A Preliminary Report for Public Review of the Task Force on Regional and District Organizations, Maine Task Force on Regional and District Organizations and Maine State Planning Office
Coastal Policy Study : State of Maine : Travel Development Study, Economics Research Associates
Geological and Botanical Features of Sand Beach Systems in Maine and their Relevance to the Critical Areas Program of the State Planning Office, Bruce W. Nelson and L. Kenneth Fink
Proposal for Maine's Coastal Program : A Brief Description, Committee on Coastal Development and Conservation
State of Maine Dams by Town, 1978, Maine State Planning Office
Waterfalls in Maine and their Relevance to the Critical Areas Program of the State Planning Office, Thomas Brewer
Submissions from 1977
Commission on Maine's Future: Final Report 1977, Commission on Maine's Future
Cumulative Impact of Incremental Development on the Maine Coast : A Working Paper Prepared for Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Committee on Coastal Development and Conservation, Land Use Consultants, Inc.
Legal Opinions and Court Cases Related to the Subdivision Law (1977), Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 1976
Insulation R & K Factors, Maine Division of Community Services
Maine's Coast: Special Considerations for the Municipal Planning Process, Maine State Planning Office and Bruce Hendler
Office Manual: Maine State Planning Office, Maine State Planning Office
The Maine Competition: Architectural Design for Low-cost Housing, Maine State Planning Office
The Natural Regions of Maine, Paul R. Adamus M.S., Garrett C. Clough PhD., Maine State Planning Office, and Maine Critical Areas Program
Submissions from 1975
Submissions from 1974
List of Rivers Subjected to Shorelands Zoning and Subdivision Control (1974), Burton R. Anderson and Charles F. Wallace Jr
Submissions from 1973
An Historical Review of Oil Spills Along the Maine Coast, 1953-1973, Edward H. Shenton
Inventory of Dams on Maine Waterways, 1973, Maine State Planning Office
State of Maine Governmental Reorganization : Departments Approved by Special Session 105th Legislature and Regular Session 106th Legislature, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 1971
Maine Coastal Resources Renewal, Maine State Planning Office
State of Maine Governmental Reorganization: A Summary of New Departments and Agencies Approved by the 105th Legislature, Maine State Planning Office
Submissions from 1935
List of State Planning Board Maps Showing Existing Conditions in Maine, Maine State Planning Board
Submissions from 1934
Report on Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project by the Maine State Planning Board, State House, Augusta, to the Quoddy Hydro-Electric Commission Appointed by Governor Brann, Maine State Planning Board and Alfred Mullikin