Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) is a non-partisan council of governments serving thirty-nine member municipalities from Kittery, at the southern tip of York County, to Stoneham, at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest.
We cultivate thriving, sustainable communities and strengthen local governments by leading planning and economic development for 39 member towns in Southern Maine. The organization was founded in 1964 to provide technical expertise to municipalities in York, southern Oxford, and Cumberland Counties. SMPDC offers a coordinated effort for land use, smart growth, resource management, environmental sustainability, and transportation planning.
What's New
- The State has opened public comment on the draft rulemaking for LD1829, LD997, LD427 - access it and learn more here! Deadline for comments is October 31st, 2025.
- SMPDC's Fall Newsletter is packed with upcoming events and program updates.
Upcoming Meetings & Webinars
Southern Maine Climate Action Workshop 2025
- Join us Wednesday, November 12th, 2025, 9:00am-4:00pm at the University of New England Harold Alfond Forum, Room 283. The second annual Southern Maine Climate Action Workshop will bring together municipalities, organizations, and communities from across southern Maine in support of collaboration towards meaningful local climate action, from planning to implementation. Hear from planning professionals and local leaders about grid resilience, nature-based strategies for coastal resilience, and local climate policy and ordinance development -- all happening in our region.
- Register here
- Workshop Flyer PDF
Planning Legislation: LD1829 & More
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Join us on Tuesday October 28th, 2:00-3:30pm as SMPDC planners walk through the municipal impacts of four new state laws related to planning and land use. We have invited municipal law attorney Phil Saucier to provide the legal perspective and answer your questions.
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Register here or visit smpdc.org/leg
Virtual Webinar Recording Available
- Our recent webinar, Plans to Porches: Let's Talk About Housing Tools!, is now available to view here. Visit our Housing webpage to learn more.
Maine Planning Basics - Monthly Webinar Series
- The Maine Planning Basics Webinar Series, co-initiated by DACF, Maine’s Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs), and the Maine Association of Planners, is intended for those new to the profession and those new to planning in Maine.
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Training sessions are scheduled for the first Friday of each month, for more information and to watch past webinars, visit the DACF webpage.
Documents and Reports
- SMPDC 2025 Annual Report
- KACTS has released their draft work plan for 2024-2025 - visit the KACTS page for more information.
- SMPDC Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
- This report summarizes the current economic conditions of the region and sets forth goals and recommendations for SMPDC over the next 5-years.
