TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT
DIVISION 2: EXECUTIVE BRANCH
§ 20173. Office of Planning and Development; Responsibilities and Authority. The responsibilities and authority of the Office of Planning and Development shall be: (a) Prepare Plan. To cause to be prepared, through the services of a consortium of both public and private experts possessing diverse planning experience and expertise, a CNMI comprehensive sustainable development plan (the Plan), which shall provide short and long-range guidance for the economic, infrastructure, and physical development of the CNMI, and which shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards, and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the CNMI for residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and other uses completely serviced by an access and circulation network and infrastructure consistent with proper protection to enhance the quality of the environment and preserve the CNMI’s natural beauty and historical heritage; (b) Assist Planning. To harmonize, improve, and assist in implementing comprehensive planning activities at all levels of government; (c) Ensure Consistency. To ensure that the current planning programs and projects are consistent with the comprehensive development plan and the policies enumerated in this article; (d) Rules. To adopt any necessary rules or regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and to exercise all other powers necessary and proper for the discharge of its responsibilities; (e) Recommendations. To develop all elements of the comprehensive development plan for the CNMI as in this article, and to make detailed written recommendations to the Governor, including minority dissenting opinion groups for further study and review; (f) Agreements. To enter into and carry out any agreement or agreements in connection with the provisions of this article and to solicit assistance from public, private, or federal sources as required in the development planning process and which are not inconsistent with or contrary to the laws of the CNMI; and (g) Annual Report. To deliver to the Governor and the presiding officers of the Legislature on the last Monday of January of each year a written report of the planning program and progress. Source: PL 20-20 § 3 (Oct. 6, 2017), modified. Commission Comment: The Commission inserted serial commas after “standards” in (a), “improve” in (b), and “private” in (f) and changed “Insure” to “Ensure” in (c) pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(g). The Commission changed capitalization in (f) and (g) for the purpose of conformity pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(f).