Citizens of Damariscotta, ME took charge of their town's future at a four-day Heart & Soul Community Planning charrette. Hundreds of participants gathered to share their opinions, critique design suggestions, and plan action steps to help Damariscotta grow without losing its character.

1. An initiative of the Damariscotta Planning Advisory Committee’s Heart & Soul Community Planning Project Damariscotta, ME October 22-26, 2009 © 2009 www.orton.org

2. © 2009 www.orton.org Damariscotta, ME is a town with a rich past and a promising future. Its centuries-old Main Street and harbor retain their distinct coastal charm, and residents are fiercely committed to keeping Damariscotta a great place to work, live, and play.

3. © 2009 www.orton.org But Damariscotta has its challenges. Development controversies came to a head several years ago over a proposed big box store, and residents face many typical small-town challenges: finding jobs, managing traffic, supporting the economy, and maintaining local character.

5. © 2009 www.orton.org DPAC identified six core values: living locally; working locally; a strong sense of community; community involvement; access to nature and culture; and access to goods and services. In October, 2009, DPAC hosted a community planning charrette to take the values and craft a vision for how the town will grow and change in the future. Over the course of four days, several hundred people attended events and shared their opinions.

15. © 2009 www.orton.org The Damariscotta Heart & Soul Community Planning is a partnership project of the Town of Damariscotta, Friends of Midcoast Maine and the Orton Family Foundation. This two-year project, led by the Damariscotta Planning Advisory Committee, aims to engage citizens in creating a vision for the town’s future and taking ownership for acting on that vision. Visit www.orton.org to learn more about this project.