Municipal Plans, State Mandates, and Property Rights

Abstract

In Maine, the state government does not require municipalities to plan, but it provides technical assistance, incentives, and state review to encourage local comprehensive planning. Most municipalities submit plans; the majority adopt plans that are consistent with state goals. Voluntary planning may therefore constitute a viable alternative to planning mandates if states offer incentives and assistance. The research finds little evidence that higher status municipalities are more likely to plan, casting doubt on the hypothesis that planning is driven by exclusionary motives in Maine. Municipalities’ planning actions correlate more consistently with indicators of their residents’ attitudes about property rights.

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