The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Plum Creek releases alternative plan for a Moosehead Lake development

April 28, 2007 - Plum Creek has released its latest plan for developing the land it owns in the Moosehead Lake region.

The revised plan is the third incarnation of Plum Creek's plan for more than 400,000 acres the company owns around Moosehead Lake, an area considered the gateway to Maine's North Woods and a mecca for hunters, fishermen and hikers.

The revisions are in direct response to input gained during several scoping sessions from the Land Use Regulation Commission, and from numerous other groups and individuals, according to Luke Muzzy, land asset manager for Plum Creek.

"The company has made substantial revisions," he said. "I'm sure to some opponents it won't be more acceptable than the other plans. While our new plan can't possibly address all interests and requests, we hope to move closer toward meeting the needs of some of our opponents while continuing to meet a broad array of conservation, economic development, and public objectives."

The new plan moves 180 shore front lots that were identified as having special value, including Indian Pond, Prong Pond, and the north peninsula of a Brassua Lake.

Plum Creek would increase permanently conserved land from 70,000 acres to 90,000. The location of the conserved land has been moved to wrap around developed areas. "It basically prevents sprawl from happening," Muzzy said. "That's a big change."

The plan includes 153 miles of trail easements for Maine's interconnected trail system for snowmobiles, a peak to peak hiking trail and the Maine Huts and Trails Corridor Nordic ski and hiking trail. Development would be moved closer to existing communities and will be more concentrated. There would be 975 lots outside the resort areas, primarily south and west of Rockwood.

The resort and Nordic ski center near Big Moose Mountain would increase from 500 to 800 resort based accommodations. The increase is to compensate for lost accommodations elsewhere, Muzzy said. There also would be a resort at Lily Bay with up to 250 resort based accommodations.

Under the previous plan, work on the Lily Bay resort would not have begun for seven years. The new plan has no such constraints, meaning it could open at the same time as the resort at big Moose Mountain.

"As a lifelong resident of the area, I've watched this region evolve without planning and it is piecemeal and uncoordinated," Muzzy said. "This plan provides an alternative to that. We didn't try to make those against this plan like the plan. We try to make it a better plan, period."

With hundreds of pages of the plan still to review, groups that have a stake in the development offered guarded opinions Friday. Kathy Johnson, North Woods Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, was pleased with Plum Creek's decision to let important shorelines remain untouched.

"We do remain deeply troubled that this plan still threatens major development in places Maine people treasure," Johnson said.

She is particularly disturbed by plans for the Lily Bay resort on the east side of Moosehead Lake. The development is across from Lily Bay State Park.

But Muzzy said the result would be miles away from the park and protected from view by islands.

"We are aware people are sensitive about Lily Bay and the proximity to the park," Muzzy said. "We know our development needs to be done in a manner that doesn't take away from the park. We feel it's about how you do it and we're committed to doing it right."

Jody Jones, wildlife biologist for the Maine Audubon Society, said the scope of the overall plan remains a concern.

"From what I've heard so far were still pretty concerned there are major developments we have problems with," Jones said. "If this was the first plan they had submitted, I think people would have similar concerns."

Jim Glassman, vice president of the Moosehead Region and Futures Committee, said his board of 12 volunteers would spend months considering the plan. A single word can change the entire plan, he said.

"When you go through and digest every word and compare it to what was there and look at the legal precedent it might set or that has been set, then you can draw conclusions," Glavine said.

The Futures Committee will continue to share its concerns and ideas with Plum Creek, Glavine said.

"I'm encouraged Plum Creek has continued to go back to the drawing board and make changes," he said. "I think it's clear Plum Creek has indicated, while they don't want to go back to the drawing board again, they want to hear from us. There may be some breathing room here."

The Land Use Regulation Commission, the state agency that acts as a planning board for the unorganized territories, will review the plan to determine whether it represents a completed application. Public hearings on the new plan are tentatively scheduled to begin in November.

"I have a lot of belief in the plan and I think it's a very good plan for the area," Muzzy said. "You put your best foot forward. It will go before the LURC commissioners and the public this fall. We hope they see the same merit we do."



This article appeared in its original form in the Morning Sentinel April 28, 2007.


Lakes: Moosehead Lake
Regions: Moosehead


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News