(a) The commissioner shall, on a continuing basis, assist coastal municipalities in carrying out their responsibilities under this chapter.
(b) The commissioner shall provide each coastal municipality with resource factor maps and other information concerning the location and condition of its coastal resources and shall also provide general technical background information on the beneficial and adverse impacts of various types of development on coastal resources.
(c) The commissioner shall respond to questions regarding the requirements of this chapter, shall respond to requests by coastal municipalities for background technical information and shall meet reasonable requests by such municipalities for technical staff assistance in developing and implementing municipal coastal programs and coastal site plan reviews.
(d) The commissioner shall consult regularly with officials of coastal municipalities regarding implementation of this chapter and shall periodically hold workshops with municipal officials responsible for making decisions under this chapter.
(e) The commissioner shall prepare a model municipal coastal program which shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Model municipal coastal plans and regulations; (2) suggested planning methodologies useful in revising municipal coastal plans; (3) suggested regulatory methods useful in revising municipal coastal regulations to conform to and effectuate the purposes of municipal coastal plans; and (4) suggested criteria and procedures for undertaking municipal coastal site plan reviews.
(f) Written technical information provided by the commissioner to coastal municipalities shall be in clear and readily understandable language.
(P.A. 78-152, S. 6, 8, 11; P.A. 79-535, S. 5, 25.)
History: P.A. 79-535 replaced previous provisions which had established interim study committee to recommend plan for coastal area management and had set forth commissioner's duties concerning plans establishment with new provisions re commissioner's duties to assist coastal municipalities in fulfilling their responsibilities.