Maine § 241. - Regulations

§ 241.. Regulations

Every political subdivision may adopt, administer and enforce, under the police power and in the manner and upon the conditions prescribed, airport zoning regulations, which regulations shall divide the area surrounding any airport within the jurisdiction of said political subdivision into zones and within such zones specify the land uses permitted and regulate and restrict the height to which structures and trees may be erected or allowed to grow. In adopting or revising any such zoning regulations, the political subdivision shall consider, among other things, the character of the flying operations expected to be conducted at the airport, the nature of the terrain, the height of existing structures and trees above the level of the airport, the possibility of lowering or removing existing obstructions and the views of the agency of the Federal Government charged with the fostering of civil aeronautics, as to the aerial approaches necessary to safe flying operations at the airport.  

In the event that a political subdivision has adopted, or hereafter adopts, a general zoning ordinance regulating, among other things, the height of buildings, any airport zoning regulations adopted for the same area or portion thereof under this chapter may be incorporated in and made a part of such general zoning regulations, and be administered and enforced in connection therewith, but such general zoning regulations shall not limit the effectiveness or scope of the regulations adopted under this chapter.  

Any 2 or more political subdivisions may agree, by ordinance duly adopted, to create a joint board and delegate to that board the powers to promulgate, administer and enforce airport zoning regulations to protect the aerial approaches of any airport located within the corporate limits of any one or more of those political subdivisions. Such joint boards must have as members 2 representatives appointed by the chief executive officers of each political subdivision participating in the creation of the board and a chair elected by a majority of the members so appointed.   [RR 2023, c. 1, Pt. C, §36 (COR).]

The jurisdiction of each political subdivision is extended to promulgation, administration and enforcement of airport zoning regulations to protect the approaches of any airport which is owned by said political subdivision but located outside the corporate limits of said political subdivision. In case of conflict with any airport zoning or other regulations promulgated by any other political subdivision, the regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall prevail.  

All airport zoning regulations adopted under this chapter shall be reasonable and none shall require the removal, lowering or other change or alteration of any structure or tree not conforming to the regulations when adopted or amended, or otherwise interfere with the continuance of any nonconforming use, except as provided in section 242, subsection 1.