Maine § 122. - Land and air rights

§ 122.. Land and air rights

1.  Land.  Private property needed by a city, town, county or authorized state agency for an airport or landing field or for the expansion of an airport or landing field may be acquired by gift, purchase, lease or other means. As a matter of public exigency, a city or town may take land for use as an airport or landing field whether such land is within or without its corporate limits and may alter, extend or discontinue such use. All proceedings including the assessment of damages and appeal therefrom shall be the same as is provided by law for laying out, altering and discontinuing town ways. No land outside the corporate limits of a city or town shall be laid out by it for such use unless the consent of the municipal officers of the town or city in which such land is located has first been obtained. As a matter of public exigency a county or authorized state agency may take land for use as an airport or landing field and may alter, extend or discontinue such use. In the case of a county or authorized state agency, all proceedings including assessment of damages, appeal and the taking of land in 2 or more counties shall be the same as provided by law for laying out, altering and discontinuing highways by the county commissioners. No property rights, or easements, of a public utility shall be taken without the approval of the Public Utilities Commission after hearing and upon such notice to the public utility affected thereby as said commission may order.

2.  Air rights.  The provisions hereof shall apply to the acquisition of air rights and easements over private property adjoining such airports and landing fields in order to provide unobstructed air space and safe approaches for the landing and taking off of aircraft using such airports and landing fields, to place and maintain suitable marks and lights for the safe operation thereof, and to prevent any use of such adjoining land as would hinder the proper development or use of such airports and landing fields. Cities and towns may enact zoning ordinances applicable to such airports, landing fields and adjoining lands situated within the limits of such cities and towns.