§ 272-a. Town comprehensive plan. 1. Legislative findings and intent.\nThe legislature hereby finds and determines that:\n (a) Significant decisions and actions affecting the immediate and\nlong-range protection, enhancement, growth and development of the state\nand its communities are made by local governments.\n (b) Among the most important powers and duties granted by the\nlegislature to a town government is the authority and responsibility to\nundertake town comprehensive planning and to regulate land use for the\npurpose of protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of\nits citizens.\n (c) The development and enactment by the town government of a town\ncomprehensive plan which can be readily identified, and is available for\nuse by the public, is in the best interest of the people of each town.\n (d) The great diversity of resources and conditions that exist within\nand among the towns of the state compels the consideration of such\ndiversity in the development of each town comprehensive plan.\n (e) The participation of citizens in an open, responsible and flexible\nplanning process is essential to the designing of the optimum town\ncomprehensive plan.\n (f) The town comprehensive plan is a means to promote the health,\nsafety and general welfare of the people of the town and to give due\nconsideration to the needs of the people of the region of which the town\nis a part.\n (g) The comprehensive plan fosters cooperation among governmental\nagencies planning and implementing capital projects and municipalities\nthat may be directly affected thereby.\n (h) It is the intent of the legislature to encourage, but not to\nrequire, the preparation and adoption of a comprehensive plan pursuant\nto this section. Nothing herein shall be deemed to affect the status or\nvalidity of existing master plans, comprehensive plans, or land use\nplans.\n 2. Definitions. As used in this section, the term:\n (a) "town comprehensive plan" means the materials, written and/or\ngraphic, including but not limited to maps, charts, studies,\nresolutions, reports and other descriptive material that identify the\ngoals, objectives, principles, guidelines, policies, standards, devices\nand instruments for the immediate and long-range protection,\nenhancement, growth and development of the town located outside the\nlimits of any incorporated village or city.\n (b) "land use regulation" means an ordinance or local law enacted by\nthe town for the regulation of any aspect of land use and community\nresource protection and includes any zoning, subdivision, special use\npermit or site plan regulation or any other regulation which prescribes\nthe appropriate use of property or the scale, location and intensity of\ndevelopment.\n (c) "special board" means a board consisting of one or more members of\nthe planning board and such other members as are appointed by the town\nboard to prepare a proposed comprehensive plan and/or an amendment\nthereto.\n 3. Content of a town comprehensive plan. The town comprehensive plan\nmay include the following topics at the level of detail adapted to the\nspecial requirements of the town:\n (a) General statements of goals, objectives, principles, policies, and\nstandards upon which proposals for the immediate and long-range\nenhancement, growth and development of the town are based.\n (b) Consideration of regional needs and the official plans of other\ngovernment units and agencies within the region.\n (c) The existing and proposed location and intensity of land uses.\n (d) Consideration of agricultural uses, historic and cultural\nresources, coastal and natural resources and sensitive environmental\nareas.\n (e) Consideration of population, demographic and socio-economic trends\nand future projections.\n (f) The location and types of transportation facilities.\n (g) Existing and proposed general location of public and private\nutilities and infrastructure.\n (h) Existing housing resources and
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