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1. Purposes. The purposes of this Ordinance are to further the maintenance of safe and healthful conditions; to prevent and control water pollution; to protect fish spawning grounds, aquatic life, bird and other wildlife habitat; to protect buildings and lands from flooding and accelerated erosion; to protect archaeological and historic resources; to protect commercial fishing and maritime industries; to protect freshwater and coastal wetlands; to control building sites, placement of structures and land uses; to conserve shore cover, and visual as well as actual points of access to inland and coastal waters; to conserve natural beauty and open space; and to anticipate and respond to the impacts of development in shoreland areas.

2. Authority. This Ordinance has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Title 38 Sections 435-449 of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated (M.R.S.A.).

3. Applicability. This Ordinance applies to all land areas within 250 feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of any great pond, river or saltwater body; within 250 feet, horizontal distance, of the upland edge of a coastal or freshwater wetland; and within 75 feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of a stream, This Ordinance also applies to any structure built on, over or abutting a dock, wharf or pier, or other structure extending or located beyond the normal high-water line of a water body or within a wetland.

4. Effective Date and Repeal of Formerly Adopted Ordinance. This Ordinance, which was adopted by the municipal legislative body on ________________, shall not be effective unless approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. A certified copy of the Ordinance, attested and signed by the Municipal Clerk, shall be forwarded to the Commissioner for approval. If the Commissioner fails to act on this Ordinance within forty-five (45) days of his/her receipt of the Ordinance, it shall be automatically approved. Upon approval of this Ordinance, the shoreland zoning ordinance previously adopted on ___________________ is hereby repealed.

Any application for a permit submitted to the municipality within the forty-five (45) day period shall be governed by the terms of this Ordinance if the Ordinance is approved by the Commissioner.

5. Availability. A certified copy of this Ordinance shall be filed with the Municipal Clerk and shall be accessible to any member of the public. Copies shall be made available to the public at reasonable cost at the expense of the person making the request. Notice of availability of this Ordinance shall be posted.

6. Severability. Should any section or provision of this Ordinance be declared by the courts to be invalid, such decision shall not invalidate any other section or provision of the Ordinance.

7. Conflicts with Other Ordinances. Whenever a provision of this Ordinance conflicts with or is inconsistent with another provision of this Ordinance or of any other ordinance, regulation or statute, the more restrictive provision shall control.

8. Amendments. This Ordinance may be amended by majority vote of the legislative body. Copies of amendments, attested and signed by the Municipal Clerk, shall be submitted to the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection following adoption by the municipal legislative body and shall not be effective unless approved by the Commissioner. If the Commissioner fails to act on any amendment within forty-five (45) days of his/her receipt of the amendment, the amendment is automatically approved. Any application for a permit submitted to the municipality within the forty-five (45) day period shall be governed by the terms of the amendment, if such amendment is approved by the Commissioner.