We need to build housing, and more efficiently. This bill helps by making the following changes in the laws governing municipal land use decisions:

1. It establishes the Housing Development Resolution Board within the judicial branch. The board has concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior Court to hear appeals of final decisions by municipal reviewing authorities regarding housing and housing development. Decisions of the board are binding and not appealable to either the Superior Court or the Supreme Judicial Court;
2. It requires a municipality to allow a certain number of dwelling units per lot depending on whether the lot is in a designated growth area or is served by public water and sewer;
3. It requires members of municipal planning committees to attend land use planning training;
4. It requires a municipality to allow an affordable housing development to exceed any height restrictions by no more than 14 feet;
5. It prohibits a municipality from enacting an ordinance that limits the rate of growth of residential development in a designated growth area;
6. It prohibits a municipality from establishing or enforcing a minimum lot size requirement greater than 5,000 square feet per dwelling unit to be served by public water and public sewer; and
7. It limits municipal review for an affordable housing density bonus and a development with 4 or fewer units to administrative review

https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1224&item=1&snum=132