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Stopping Plum Creek’s latest scheme
 Environment Maine and our members at a rally to protect Mooshead Lake.
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In response to this summer’s revision of Plum Creek’s massive subdivision proposal, Environment Maine again shifted into high gear to protect Moosehead Lake. We continued our work to maintain the public access and wilderness quality of Moosehead Lake by educating citizens, collecting public comments and garnering media against the proposal.
Maine will decide fate of Moosehead
Plum Creek’s enormous subdivision proposal requires state approval to become reality. Similar to any request in a town to rezone an area that is not meant for development, a government board, in this case the Land Use Regulations Commission (LURC), takes public input and makes the decision on whether to approve the request.
Last summer, LURC denied the Burnt Jacket proposal to put 70 house lots on the shore of Moosehead Lake. In denying this proposal, LURC reiterated its mission by stating that the proposal did not fulfill the agency’s requirement that development be located near existing development and be of similar type, scale and intensity. In its decision, LURC reiterated that “rezoning is not an entitlement, petitioner purchased this land with a full understanding of ... restrictions on development.”
New proposal, same problems
Plum Creek is requesting that the state rezone over 22,000 acres of working forests currently open for recreation and wildlife habitat into over 975 house lots, over 1050 resort units, hundreds of worker units, golf courses, commercial development and miles of new roads and utility lines. Plum Creek defines “resort units” to mean individual houses, condos, hotel rooms or other forms of accommodation, which would allow Plum Creek to sell over 2000 house lots. Plum Creek is also seeking permission to do another massive development 30 years from now.
Environment Maine is calling on the agency charged with protecting the North Woods, the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), to deny Plum Creek’s request, preserve access for Mainers and visitors, permanently protect the wilderness of Moosehead Lake, and focus development around existing towns. |
