Statement of Diano Circo, North Woods Policy Advocate
We are encouraged that Plum Creek has requested a delay so the company can revise the massive development it proposed for the Moosehead Lake region. As proposed, the development would destroy the traditional, quiet, undeveloped character of the area.
We are grateful to the thousands of Maine people who have spoken out passionately about their love for the beautiful Moosehead Lake area and shared their concerns about the harm Plum Creek’s proposal would bring.
Maine people have spoken: Plum Creek’s proposal calls for too much development and in the wrong places. NRCM urges Plum Creek to really go back to the drawing board this time and return with a plan that sincerely reflects these concerns.
The company claimed to make changes before, but their revisions included exactly the same number of house lots – 975 – and development scattered in 58 subdivisions around seven lakes and ponds across the Moosehead region.
We urge Plum Creek to focus its development within two miles of Greenville and/or Rockwood and at the ski area at Moose Mountain and to permanently protect the areas most treasured areas for nature-based tourism including:
Lily Bay Peninsula
Brassua Lake
Prong Pond
Upper Wilson Pond
Big W Township
Upper Indian Pond
Long Pond (northshore)
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(NRCM’s comments above are in response to this LURC announcement)
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Agnieszka Pinette, Senior Planner, Land Use Regulation Commission.
SUBJECT: Change in public hearing schedule related to Plum Creek’s Concept Plan proposal for the Moosehead Lake region.
On January 17, 2007, the Land Use Regulation Commission received a letter from Plum Creek’s legal counsel, Virginia E. Davis, stating the following:
“As you know, Plum Creek has been meeting with representatives from numerous state and federal agencies and with other stakeholders. We also have been meeting with LURC staff and consultants, reviewing comments from the public and information in the administrative record. The purpose of this letter is to advise you that, based upon that review and analysis, Plum Creek is contemplating amending its proposed Plan. I anticipate that by late January, Plum Creek will have identified the specific changes it is proposing and be prepared to provide additional information to you and the public.
Plum Creek believes that the Commission, other governmental agencies and the public should have adequate time to review any proposed changes. Plum Creek, therefore, respectfully requests that the hearings scheduled to begin May 19, 2007 be rescheduled.”
Based on this information and Plum Creek’s request, LURC has suspended the schedule for public hearings related to this proposal, and the February 14, 2007, deadline for seeking intervenor status has been cancelled. Once LURC staff receives additional information regarding the specific changes that Plum Creek is contemplating, LURC staff will recommend to the Commission a revised hearing schedule, which will include a postponement of the hearings previously scheduled to begin on May 19, 2007, and a new deadline for seeking intervenor status. Interested parties will be notified as to when this recommendation will be presented to the Commission, and the contents thereof.
Agnieszka Pinette
Senior Planner, Planning & Administration Division
Land Use Regulation Commission
22 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333
Tel. (207) 287-8786
