Natural Resources Council of Maine * Maine Audubon
July 16, 2008 — Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission received a huge volume of comments during the past month as citizens responded to what may be one of their last opportunities to affect Plum Creek’s development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region. During a month-long comment period which ended July 11th, LURC received 1,762 comments expressing opposition to Plum Creek’s proposal. Of these, 1,517 stated specific opposition to development at Lily Bay.
Only 6 people contacted LURC during this period to voice support for Plum Creek’s plan as currently envisioned. 85.8% of all comments received by LURC during this comment period oppose Lily Bay development, an additional 13.9% oppose the entire Plum Creek proposal, and only 0.3% support the plan. Overall, 99.6% raised objections.
LURC initiated the comment period on June 5, requesting public reactions to a set of Commission-generated amendments to Plum Creek’s development proposal. These amendments to Plum Creek’s plan were first presented by LURC staff and consultants for review by the Commission during deliberations on May 27 and 28, and were subsequently adopted by LURC on Jun 4th to be posted for public comment.
Proposed development at Lily Bay has emerged as a top concern for people across Maine and across the nation. Plum Creek continues to press for rezoning of 1,800 acres of forestland at Lily Bay where it could build a resort, marina, golf course, stores, seasonal homes, and roads. Yet the public strongly opposes Plum Creek’s plans at Lily Bay.
The 1,517 comments received by LURC that specifically urge protection of Lily Bay were sent by people living in 303 towns across the state, located in all 16 Maine counties, and from 28 states, Canada, and Greece. Eighty percent of all comments were from Maine residents, and 20 percent were from people from outside Maine who value the Moosehead Lake region. (See lists below.)
The six public comments in support of Plum Creek’s proposal came from only four Maine towns (one comment did not identify an address): Augusta, Canaan, Wilton, and Winterport. Not a single letter in support of the LURC-generated amendments was sent from a Maine resident living within 60 miles of Greenville. In contrast, comments opposing development at Lily Bay came from individuals living in the following areas near Moosehead Lake: Jackman, Rockwood, Greenville, Greenville Junction, Beaver Cove, Dexter, Garland, Dover-Foxcroft, Sangerville, Sapling Township, Abbott, Tomhegan Township, and Lily Bay Township, among others.
The LURC-generated amendments to Plum Creek’s plan call for a reduction in the number of acres to be developed at Lily Bay, but no reduction of the number of houses there (404) or type of development that would be allowed (e.g., a resort, marina, golf course, stores, single family dwellings, and roads).
“Maine people could not be more clear and emphatic in their message to LURC: do not approve development at Lily Bay,” said NRCM Executive Director Brownie Carson. “People living in more than 60% of Maine towns – from Kittery to Ft. Kent, and all points in-between – have made their views known to LURC. Now the question is whether the Commission will listen.”
During the 26 weekdays of this public comment period, LURC received, on average, 60 letters per day opposed to development at Lily Bay – compared with only two letters during the entire month that explicitly support development at Lily Bay; one of those letters was sent from Tampa, Florida.
“We’ve read these comments and over and over people have passionately expressed lasting, personal connections to Lily Bay,” said Kevin Carley, Maine Audubon executive director. “Just as passionate are their concerns with what Plum Creek plans to do with the area. Many are literally begging LURC to save it from this inappropriate development.”
Samples of Public Comments include the following:
- “My family takes yearly trips to Lily Bay to get away from the crowded development of Maine’s coastal corridor. My children look forward to the serenity of our state park’s wonderful campground where we can see the stars and hear the loons every night. The massive development proposed by Plum Creek would put an end to our vacations there along with those of many Mainers who can still have a low-cost time with their families enjoying the outdoors in Maine.” Christine Szalay, Damariscotta
- “There is no need nor local desire to have this relatively unscathed section of the Moosehead Lake region developed, especially on the large scale proposed by Plum Creek.” LeRoy & Joanna Ellis, Greenville
- “If you allow this development, you can never take back the mistakes you will be making. It is forever and another piece of America will be lost forever.” Laurence Lougee, Rockwood
- “One cannot say too often that once the Moosehead peace, quiet, and natural beauty is compromised by development for the few wealthy seasonal beneficiaries, it is compromised forever. It is not worth it.” Dr. William Slavick, Portland
- “Just tell Plum Creek: ‘No thanks, Lily Bay is just fine the way it is….'” Julie Sawtelle, Litchfield
During LURC’s May 28th deliberation session, several Commissioners noted their strong interest in seeing what the comments and reactions would be to the proposed amendments, noting that this was an ongoing process for which public comments would be important.
The Commission is expected to meet in September to receive a report from staff about the comments that have been received during the comment period.
“We know what Plum Creek’s decision-makers in Seattle think: they want to build the equivalent of a new town on Lily Bay. And now we know what Maine people from throughout the state think: they want Lily Bay protected. We urge the Commission to side with Maine people and take the necessary step of protecting Lily Bay from development,” said Carson.
“The public has used the only tool available to them to express their views, and they have done so in record numbers. Now the fate of Lily Bay is in the Commission’s hands. We urge them to consider and respect the views of the more than 1,500 people who have contacted them to voice support for protection of Lily Bay.”
“At a time when we are trying to take advantage of Maine’s natural environment for nature-based tourism, it is especially noteworthy that individuals from 28 other states, Canada, and even overseas are urging LURC to protect Lily Bay,” said Carley. “What more evidence could we possibly need to show that this is a special place that should not be the focus of development?”
During a previous 11-month public comment period, which ended March 18, 2008, LURC staff logged approximately 2,500 letters opposed to Plum Creek’s plan and 100 letters in support of the plan – a 25:1 ratio of opposition to support. The current ratio is 293:1.
NRCM and Maine Audubon on July 11th and July 14th made copies of all public comments, and read and analyzed every comment, as the basis of the analysis in this release.
“Lily Bay peninsula is known for Canada lynx sightings, and it has significant bird, wildlife, and brook trout habitat,” Carley added. “Local wildlife is one reason Lily Bay State Park stands as a premier destination for peaceful, affordable recreation by Maine people. Traffic connected to hundreds of housing units on Lily Bay would cause a dramatic increase in the number of animals killed along the entire east side of Moosehead Lake.”
A Real Estate Investment Trust based in Seattle, Plum Creek is the nation’s largest commercial landowner. Included in the range of development it has proposed for the Moosehead region is a level of construction at Lily Bay that LURC staff acknowledge is comparable to building a new Maine town the size of Troy, Perry, or St. Agatha.
Individuals from these 303 Maine Towns Oppose Development at Lily Bay
Abbot
Acton
Albany Township
Albion
Alfred
Allagash
Alna
Andover
Appleton
Argyle TWP
Arrowsic
Arundel
Auburn
Augusta
Bailey Island
Bangor
Bar Harbor
Bar Mills
Bass Harbor
Bath
Beaver Cove
Belfast
Belgrade
Belgrade Lakes
Benton
Bernard
Berwick
Bethel
Biddeford
Biddeford Pool
Blue Hill
Boothbay
Bowdoin
Bradford
Bremen
Brewer
Bridgton
Bristol
Brooklin
Brooks
Brownfield
Brunswick
Buckfield
Bucksport
Burnham
Buxton
Camden
Canaan
Cape Elizabeth
Cape Neddick
Cape Porpoise
Lily Bay Township
Carrabassett Valley
Casco
Castine
Charlotte
Chebeague Island
Cherryfield
Chesterville
China
Corea
Corinth
Cornish
Cumberland
Cumberland Center
Cumberland Foreside
Cushing
Damariscotta
Dedham
Deer Isle
Denmark
Dexter
Dover-Foxcroft
Dresden
East Baldwin
East Blue Hill
East Boothbay
East Machias
East Orland
East Waterboro
Eastbrook
Eastport
Eliot
Ellsworth
Embden
Eustis
Exeter
Fairfield
Falmouth
Farmingdale
Fayette
Fort Kent
Franklin
Freedom
Freeport
Frenchtown Twp.
Friendship
Fryeburg
Gardiner
Garland
Glenburn
Gorham
Gouldsboro
Gray
Greene
Greenville
Greenville Junction
Greenwood
Hallowell
Hampden
Hancock
Harborside
Harpswell
Harrison
Hebron
Hermon
Hiram
Holden
Hollis
Hollis Center
Hope
Island Falls
Islesboro
Jackman
Jackson
Jay
Jefferson
Kenduskeag
Kennebunk
Kennebunkport
Kittery
Kittery Point
Lakeville
Lamoine
Lebanon
Leeds
Levant
Lewiston
Liberty
Limerick
Limington
Lincolnville
Lincolnville Center
Linneus
Lisbon Falls
Litchfield
Livermore
Livermore Falls
Lubec
Ludlow
Madison
Manchester
Mattawamkeag
Meddybemps
Milbridge
Milford
Millinocket
Monhegan
Monmouth
Monroe
Montville
Mount Desert
Mount Vernon
Naples
New Gloucester
New Harbor
New Vineyard
Newcastle
Newport
Newry
Nobleboro
Norridgewock
North Bridgeton
North New Portland
North Waterford
North Yarmouth
Northeast Harbor
Northport
Norway
Oakland
Ogunquit
Old Orchard Beach
Old Town
Oquossoc
Orland
Orneville Township
Orono
Orrington
Orrs Island
Owls Head
Palmyra
Parkman
Parsonsfield
Peaks Island
Pemaquid
Pembroke
Penobscot
Phippsburg
Pittsfield
Pittston
Plymouth
Poland Springs
Port Clyde
Portland
Pownal
Presque Isle
Rangeley
Raymond
Readfield
Richmond
Ripley
Rockland
Rockport
Rockwood
Rome
Roque Bluffs
Round Pond
Sabattus
Saco
St. Albans
Sanford
Sangerville
Sapling Township
Scarborough
Seal Cove
Seal Harbor
Searsmont
Searsport
Sebago
Sebec
Sedgwick
Sidney
Skowhegan
Smithfield
South Berwick
South China
South Freeport
South Hadley
South Hiram
South Paris
South Portland
Southport
Southwest Harbor
Springfield
Springvale
Spruce Head
Standish
Starks
Steuben
Stockton Springs
Stoneham
Stonington
Stow
Stratton
Sullivan
Surry
Swans Island
Swanville
Tenants Harbor
Thomaston
Tomhegan Township
Topfield
Topsham
Trenton
Troy
Union
Unity
Vassalboro
Veazie
Vinalhaven
Waldo
Waldoboro
Wales
Walpole
Warren
Washington
Waterford
Waterville
Wayne
Wellington
Wells
West Bath
West Boothbay Harbor
West Buxton
West Gardiner
West Newfield
West Paris
West Tremont
Westbrook
Westfield
Weston
Whitefield
Wilton
Windham
Winslow
Winter Harbor
Winterport
Winthrop
Wiscasset
Woolwich
Yarmouth
York
York Harbor
Individuals from 29 states oppose development at Lily Bay
Alabama
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Missouri
Montana
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
