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Conservation Groups Scold Plum Creek

April 01, 2008 - AUGUSTA -- Opponents of a Plum Creek plan to develop thousands of acres in the Moosehead Lake region Tuesday accused the company of showing no response to criticisms heaped upon the project at a series of public meetings. But a spokesman for the Seattle-based developer said the rules of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission, which governs zoning in much of rural Maine, does not call for Plum Creek to propose changes unless the commission itself calls for them.

That decision is not likely until at least April, according to Luke Muzzy, senior land manager for Plum Creek in Maine and project manager for the company's proposed Moosehead-area resort development. Catherine Johnson, chief legal counsel for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said she expects a commission decision on the project by fall, barring further legal complications.

Officials of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Audubon and their supporters called a news conference Tuesday to express outrage that Plum Creek made no further changes to its development plan despite widespread criticism of it at public hearings held around the state. Such changes would have been made in Plum Creek's most recent filings before the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission, the groups alledge.

"It's just unbelievable," said Everett "Brownie" Carson, executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. "We are stunned that Plum Creek has failed to acknowledge any of these problems surfaced in the public comments.

"Plum Creek claims to be a company that listens to Maine people," Carson said, "but their post hearing brief shows no evidence that they have listened at all."

Muzzy responded that now is not the time for his company to propose changes to the plan. The closing briefs presented earlier this month and others due on Friday, Muzzy said, are intended only to wrap up the parties' positions as they were expressed before the LURC commissioners. His company is following the process laid out by the commission, Muzzy said, and would only come forward with changes if commission members ask for them in April.

"We testified - I did personally - that we are willing to make the plan better, and we intend to do that if LURC thinks that should be done," Muzzy said. "They told us during the process that it's not up to us to make changes until we hear what they have to say."

Muzzy said he was surprised that activists expect the plan to be amended at this stage. To the contrary, he said any change at this point could delay the process because it could trigger a need to repeat some parts ofthe procedure.

Plum Creek proposes to rezone about 20,000 acres of land in order to develop 7,000 to 8,000 acres, Muzzy said. In return, he said his company proposes to place 380,000 acres into permanent conservation. He said the plan proposes Maine's largest rezoning ever, but pointed out that the proposed development would be only a small fraction of the total amount of land rezoned.

In late January, the commission concluded 15 days of technical hearings and four public comment sessions. Carson said the company filed a 156-page post-hearing brief on March 7, and he said the parties will file final documents with the commission later this week.

Carson said Plum Creek's plan calls for 2,300 housing units, two resorts, commercial centers and other developments in the Moosehead region. He said opponents attending a series of public hearings outnumbered supporters of Plum Creek's plan by a 20-1 margin.

Critics of the plan came up with "more than 50 very specific, recurring problems" with the company's proposal, including: 1) inappropriate locations of development they said would "harm wildlife, environmental quality and scenic character"; and 2) the creation of special zon- ing regulations that would benefit only Plum Creek if LURC endorses the company's proposal.

Carson characterized Plum Creek's March 7 brief as arguing "that every single element of their plan is perfect." "Plum Creek says that nothing needs to be changed: not a single house lot, not a single acre of proposed rezoning, not a single provision of the easements," Carson alleged.

Diane Guethlen, of Tomhegan Toumship, who lives near the site of the proposed development, urged members of the commission to amend the plan if Plum Creek does not.

"Our hope is LURC will require the company to rnake substantial changes to the amount and location of developments, and the amount, location and quality of conservation, and not just tinker around the edges," Guethlen said. "Moosehead is a special place that should be protected. If it is not, it would set a horrible precedent for the rest of LURC's 10 million-plus acres."

Lisa deHart, a Maine river guide from West Gardiner who takes visitors to waterways in the region, said her customers go to see unspoiled riverbanks, not expensive homes and development.

"None of our future guests are going to pay money to paddle around a corner and see a trophy home in the viewscape," deHart said. "I agree that the Moosehead Lake region has the potential to create jobs, mine is one of them. I can make a better living and would much prefer to work as a river guide than as a waitress at a golf course or a Plum Creek resort."


SOURCE: KENNEBEC JOURNAL

DATE: 03-19-2008


Lakes: Moosehead Lake
Regions: Moosehead


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