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In-Depth Description

In April 2005, Seattle-based Plum Creek Real Estate Investment Trust Corporation submitted to the Land Use Regulation Commission a 570-page proposal for the largest development ever proposed in Maine. The company’s proposal called for 975 house lots, two resorts, a golf course, a marina, three RV parks—with convenience stores, beauty salons, and gas stations—and more than 100 rental cabins, right in the heart of Maine’s spectacular Moosehead Lake region.

NRCM was the first organization to oppose this plan, which, in addition to too much development and in the wrong places, proposed no additional permanent conservation. NRCM spoke out, and so did the people of Maine, including residents of the Moosehead region. In response, Plum Creek went back to the drawing board.

The message was clear: the time had come for an alternative vision for the Moosehead region, one that provides permanent, large-scale conservation, concentrates development in and near existing communities, ensures development that strengthens the economy for local people, and protects the region’s beauty, character and heritage.

NRCM contracted with a land use planning firm well versed in community planning to protect scenic, ecological, and recreational resources while allowing for development that would benefit area communities. We met often with concerned citizens of the region and beyond. The result was A Vision for the Moosehead Lake Region, a 32-page full-color publication that describes a vision that could become a model for Maine—and the nation.

A Vision for the Moosehead Lake Region is an important step toward protecting the character of Maine’s spectacular North Woods. We invite you to download a copy from our website today.

In April 2006, Plum Creek announced a new plan, and, as part of a slick public relations campaign, claimed, "You spoke. We listened." It didn't. In fact, 93 percent of the development was still the same. NRCM continued to work hard to make the facts known. That included uncovering Plum Creek's history of forest practice violations, including the largest fine in Maine forest practice history (find the report here).

In response to pressure from NRCM, local residents, and people from across the state and beyond, on April 27, 2007 Plum Creek submitted another revised plan. The plan still called for far too much development in the wrong places, including places Maine people treasure like remote Lily Bay and the North Shore of Long Pond.

LURC held four public hearings on Plum Creek’s plan in December 2007 and January 2008. Approximately 1,200 people attended one of the four public hearings; 2/3rds of those who spoke opposed Plum Creek’s plan. LURC also held four weeks of technical hearings with Plum Creek and the other 30+ intervening parties presenting testimony of about 170 witnesses. This is where the process changed dramatically. After the hearings, the Land Use Regulation Commission determined that the application wasn’t approvable as submitted. Rather than vote up or down on Plum Creek’s application the Commission decided to have its staff and consultants re-write it. Even after the staff re-wrote Plum Creek’s application for them, it included far too much development and continued to allow development in Lily Bay.

In the summer of 2008 a public comment period was opened to allow people to voice their opinion on the latest staff initiated draft. The response was overwhelming. Of the 1,768 written comments the Commission received (far more than they had received on any other issue in their history), 1,762 were opposed to the Plum Creek application. 1,517 of the comments specifically opposed development at Lily Bay. Despite this, the final Plum Creek application was approved in September 2009 and included massive development at Lily Bay.

In October 2009 NRCM filed an appeal in the Maine Superior Court (link to appeal page). We are looking forward to arguing our case.

We hope you will join us in following this issue closely, by visiting our website often, becoming a member, subscribing to our RSS feeds, and joining our Action Network today!