The Maine Islands Coalition met Nov. 16 to discuss several initiatives connected to the affordability of coastal Maine.

Chris Wolff, the Island Institute’s community development director, reported on affordable housing initiatives through the Coalition for Coastal Workforce Housing (CCWH) and her role as administrator of affordable coast affordable housing grants. Upcoming efforts include expanding the CCWH base of support by partnering with other housing groups, and beginning an education campaign to ensure that funds from the state’s real estate transfer tax are not diverted to other projects, as has happened in the past.

Jen Litteral, marine programs officer at the Island Institute, spoke on behalf of the Working Waterfront Coalition (WWFC) and related the successes of the Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program (WWAPP) and the next steps to ensuring its viability.

The coalition, together with the pilot program, will be recommending changes such as eliminating the penalty for landowners getting out of the program, and including the land under structures, as well as the structures themselves, under current-use taxation.

The WWFC will also be advocating for bills in the upcoming short legislative session that expand the definition of “working waterfront” to include more marine-dependent uses, eliminate the lag time between a clam flat’s announced opening and the date that it can be harvested, and require fixing faulty septic systems on property as a prerequisite to any real estate transactions.

Litteral also discussed the nearly $105,000 in working-waterfront access grants awarded in the past six months through the Affordable Coast Fund.

Island Institute policy specialist Bill McGuinness reported that the Institute continues to support the Fox Islands and Swan’s Island Electric Co-ops, and has hired a consultant to devise a community outreach plan for these projects. McGuinness also continues his involvement with the governor’s wind power task Force, advocating for community wind projects producing less than 10 MW. McGuinness anticipates that support for community wind projects will be a major aspect of a “green” power bill docketed for this winter’s legislative session.

State Sen. Dennis Damon (D-Hancock) reported on behalf of a joint select legislative committee charged with developing “a comprehensive plan for achieving sustainable prosperity in the state, by reviewing and enacting legislation based on the recommendations of various reports that examine how to achieve the long-term prosperity of the economy and the quality of Maine life.” Damon reported that the committee was initially planning to issue its plan via a report with recommendations, but instead, it is looking towards a comprehensive bill that includes both new legislation and legislation already in committee. The Islands Coalition decided to hold its February meeting in Augusta to bring together rural legislators and advocate for a voice on this committee.

Maggie Drummond of GrowSmart Maine, who has worked with this committee, reported that her organization is in the first year of implementing the recommendations from last year’s Brookings Report. Although a proposed 10-year Quality Places Bond failed under pressure from the tourism industry, Gov. John Baldacci picked up on the idea and proposed a Council on Quality Places. This group’s report on how to capitalize upon unique resources, revitalize downtowns and protect critical landscape is due next month.

Mike Langella, chair of the Peaks Island advisory council, reported on his organization’s incorporation as a seven-member council to improve communications with the City of Portland as a result of Peaks’s secession attempt. q