Section 498-23-1 - DefinitionsAs used in these rules, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings:
1. Comprehensive Plan: "Comprehensive Plan" shall mean a plan that is determined by the Executive Department, State Planning Office to be consistent with 30-A M.R.S.A. §4326 subsections 1 to 4 and that it has been adopted by the municipality.2. Department: "Department" shall mean the Department of Economic and Community Development.3. Downtown: "Downtown" shall mean the central business district of a community that serves as the center for socioeconomic interaction in the community and is characterized by a cohesive core of commercial and mixed-use buildings, often interspersed with civic, religious and residential buildings and public spaces, typically arranged along a main street and intersecting side streets, walkable and served by public infrastructure; or an area identified as a downtown in a comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to chapter 187, subchapter II.4. Downtown Plan: "Downtown Plan" shall mean a comprehensive downtown revitalization work plan adopted by the applicant community which includes a definition and a map of the downtown area.5. Eligible Applicant: "Eligible Applicant" shall mean a Maine town or city which has a comprehensive plan consistent with the requirements of § 1(1) above. To be considered an "Eligible Applicant" the community must have received written approval from the Department that the community's Letter of Intent was received by the stated due date. Multiple eligible applicants may join together to submit a multi-jurisdictional application.
6. Fund: "Fund" shall mean the Communities for Maine's Future Program.7. Letter of Intent: "Letter of Intent" shall mean a form that is provided by the Department to all potential applicants to the Fund and which must be completed and returned to the Department by the stated due date established by the Panel. All Letters of Intent must comply with § 8(1)(a-c) of this Rule.8. Panel: The "Panel" shall mean the Communities for Maine's Future Review Panel, established to evaluate proposals and determine funding under the program. The Panel will consist of: a. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or designee;b. The Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission or designee;c. The Director of the State Planning Office within the Executive Department or designee; andd. Four members of the public, one with expertise in economic and community development, one with expertise in historic preservation, one with expertise in downtown revitalization and one with expertise in tourism development and promotion. Two of these members are appointed by the President of the Senate and two by the Speaker of the House.9. Project: The "Project" shall mean the scope of work for which financial assistance is sought by a municipality from the fund as well as all work critical to the completion of the project which is funded by other sources.10. Project Site: The "Project Site" is the location of the work to be performed with assistance from the Fund or other sources and must always take place in a designated downtown or village area.11. Village Center: "Village Center" shall mean the central business district of a community that serves as the center for socioeconomic interaction in the community and is characterized by a cohesive core of commercial and mixed-use buildings, often interspersed with civic, religious and residential buildings and public spaces, typically arranged along a main street and intersecting side streets, walkable and served by public infrastructure; or an area identified as a village in a comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to chapter 187, subchapter II.19-498 C.M.R. ch. 23, § 1