Maine’s North Woods Could Pay the Price NRCM and coalition partners Members of a broad coalition of conservation and planning groups are raising concerns about reforms proposed for the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) and how those reforms are being addressed in the Legislature. Maine’s legendary North Woods—the anchor of our forest products and tourism Read More
development
Coalition Concerned About Impact of LURC Proposal on Maine’s North Woods
Planners, conservationists, and citizens throughout Maine are concerned about the impact of proposed changes to Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) on Maine’s North Woods, and are urging the Legislature to examine the proposal carefully and think long and hard about the importance of Maine’s signature natural resource. “We are pleased that the LURC Reform Read More
North Woods Supporters Denounce Bills to Abolish LURC & Weaken Protections
News Release Today, a group including North Woods landowners, foresters, a logger, a registered Maine Guide, and a planner denounced legislation that would abolish Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), saying the bills would destroy Maine’s North Woods, the largest undeveloped forest east of the Mississippi, by rolling back 40 years of protections. “The Governor Read More
Statement by Buzz Lamb, North Woods Camp Owner
My name is Buzz Lamb. I own land in two different counties in the unorganized townships, including a “camp” on Lobster Lake in Piscataquis County. I have been spending time in the unorganized townships for 68 years. I have been involved in state, local and county government over the years. I grew up in the Read More
Statement by Beth Della Valle, Maine Association of Planners, against LDs 17, 1258, and 1534
Distinguished Members of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry: My name is Beth Della Valle. I am here as President of the Maine Association of Planners to testify in opposition to LDs 17, 1258, and 1534. The Maine Association of Planners, or MAP, is a statewide organization of approximately 100 members, including Read More
Statement by Gordon Mott, North Woods Landowner and Forester
My name is Gordon Mott. I am a land manager and forester. I live in a town that has been under LURC land-use planning, permitting and code enforcement for the 40 years since LURC was established. I have my own small private business managing land parcels located in five counties. I also deal with Planning Read More
Court Strikes Down Plum Creek Plan
Statement by NRCM Executive Director Lisa Pohlmann We are pleased and gratified by the Superior Court’s decision today to strike down the Land Use Regulation Commission’s approval of Plum Creek’s massive development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region. The plan calls for 2,000 resort and vacation home units scattered around Moosehead Lake. In his ruling, Read More
Plum Creek Harvest Too Close to Rare Species of Wintergreen
By Diana Bowley, staff writer Bangor Daily News news story FRENCHTOWN TOWNSHIP, Maine — Plum Creek Timberland’s harvesting in 2009 of an area too close to a rare plant in the Frenchtown area of Piscataquis County is being investigated. The timber company advised the Forest Society of Maine on Monday that it had harvested within Read More
Plum Creek’s Apology for Timber Violations Leaves Critics Skeptical
by Susan Sharon MPBN radio news story For the second time in four years, the Plum Creek timber company has been assessed one of the largest penalties in Maine history for violations of the state’s Forest Practices Act. The company has apologized for three improper clearcuts in an area near Moosehead Lake that is now Read More
