Harpswell officials say the town’s overwhelming approval of a new comprehensive plan marks the end of a long process — and the beginning of a new one to put its ideas into action.
More than 70% of Harpswell voters approved the updated plan in a townwide referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 4. The count was 1,872 to 747. Three other, less contentious town referendum questions also passed.
The Harpswell Select Board assembled a task force in November 2021 to begin work on the plan, which had last been updated in 2005. A comprehensive plan is a long-range guide for a community’s future that contains advice for town officials but does not carry the force of law.
Allan “Al” LeGrow, former chair of the Harpswell Planning Board, led the town’s Comprehensive Plan Task Force, which held more than 50 public meetings. LeGrow said he was pleased that voters approved the plan.
“Major credit should be given to the citizen volunteers that served on the task force, along with the town staff, which provided steady support throughout,” he said in an email.
The vote on the comprehensive plan had been scheduled for the March 2024 Town Meeting, but was delayed by a year after some residents objected to goals intended to promote affordable housing.
The vote was delayed again in March 2025 when attendance at Town Meeting exceeded the venue’s capacity, forcing local leaders to reschedule the meeting and move some warrant items to secret ballots to prevent overcrowding. Many residents’ objections to the plan persisted, leading to more revisions.
LeGrow described the plan’s recent approval as a starting point rather than a finish line.
“In many ways, the positive vote represents a first step only,” he said. “To sustain momentum, the town should appoint an implementation committee to work with other town committees, track progress on the issues addressed in the plan and keep the select board and staff advised.”
LeGrow added that town leaders are still awaiting the results of a state review of the plan to determine whether it is complete and consistent with the Maine Growth Management Act.
Town Administrator Kristi Eiane said the town hopes to garner state approval before moving on to the next steps.
“Assuming we receive the green light, the Select Board will move forward with the appointment of a Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee to develop and coordinate the process for moving ideas and ordinance changes forward,” Eiane said in an email.
She expects the Select Board to oversee the committee’s work and weigh in periodically on priorities. Funding for a consultant to help with implementation will be built into the town’s 2026 budget, Eiane said, giving Harpswell the technical support needed to translate the plan’s recommendations into policy.
Select Board Chair Kevin Johnson said he is happy about the comprehensive plan’s approval, but disappointed that some of its recommendations about affordable housing had to be removed. He praised LeGrow for dedicating four years to shepherding the plan through the drafting and approval process.
“Al LeGrow did what he had to do,” Johnson said. “I can say that without him, this (approval) would have never happened.”
LeGrow said building local consensus on the broad range of complex issues included in the plan proved more difficult than he anticipated. “I suppose it reflects the passion Harpswell residents have for the town and its future,” he added.
For LeGrow, the plan’s approval also closes a chapter in his life.
“Since moving to Harpswell in 2013, I’ve served on a number of boards and committees, so community service is part of my DNA,” he said. “That said, I’m going to kick back and relax a bit before deciding how best I can serve in the future.”
