1. 1. Establishment Any 7 or more municipalities or unorganized territory townships, all of which are within one regional planning and development district and within one subdistrict if any, by vote of their municipal officers, may join together to form a regional planning commission.

   1. A. If 4 to 6 municipalities desire to form a regional planning commission, each proposed member municipality must receive the consent of the commissioners of the county in which the municipality is located.

      1. (1) Upon receiving a request for the formation of a regional planning commission under this paragraph, the county commissioners shall notify all proposed member municipalities and any regional planning commission in the county of the request and shall hold a public hearing on the request.

      2. (2) The county commissioners shall grant a request by a municipality to join in the formation of a regional planning commission composed of 4 to 6 municipalities if that formation furthers the purposes of this chapter.

         [PL 1989, c. 202 (NEW).]

   [PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 202 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 508, §2 (AMD).]

2. 2. Purposes The purposes of a regional planning commission are to:

   1. A. Promote cooperative efforts toward regional development;

      [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

   2. B. Prepare and maintain a comprehensive regional plan.

      1. (1) The public must be given an adequate opportunity to be heard in the preparation of a comprehensive plan;

         [PL 2007, c. 215, §5 (AMD).]

   3. C. Coordinate with state and federal planning and development programs;

      [PL 2007, c. 215, §5 (AMD).]

   4. D. Provide planning assistance and advisory services to municipalities; and

      [PL 2007, c. 215, §5 (AMD).]

   5. E. Provide programs and services to municipalities.

      [PL 2007, c. 215, §5 (NEW).]

   [PL 2007, c. 215, §5 (AMD).]

PL 1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 202 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 508, §2 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 215, §5 (AMD).