GREENVILLE – A special meeting will be held by municipal officials this week to critique Plum Creek’s proposed development and conservation plan for land in unorganized territory in the Moosehead Lake region.
The critique will identify the strong points of the proposed plan as it relates to Greenville as well as possible improvements or alternatives. Municipal officials hope the company will consider the critique before it submits a revised plan to the Land Use Regulation Commission in the near future, according to Greenville Town Manager John Simko.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the fire station. Residents should note the location change.
Selectmen also may address the proposed 70-lot subdivision slated for neighboring Beaver Cove. Comments made would be in relation to any perceived impact on services in Greenville, Simko said on Friday.
Plum Creek wants to rezone about 426,000 acres in the Moosehead Lake region to implement a concept plan. That plan, now under revision by the company, initially included the phased-in development of 975 lots, a 3,000-acre resort in Lily Bay, three recreational vehicle parks, a lodge on Brassua Lake, a 1,000-acre commercial or industrial site, four commercial sporting camps and an unlimited number of rental cabins. To mitigate the development, the company offered a 30-year no development zone for more than 382,000 acres and snowmobile, hiking and shorefront easements.
Although scoping sessions on the plan were held by LURC throughout the state, selectmen felt the need to hold their own hearing earlier this month to seek comments from local residents.
Based on those comments and ideas and issues generated by board members, an evaluation of the plan will be made and submitted to company officials and LURC, according to Simko.
What is known is that the Plum Creek proposal offers some significant opportunities and also could have serious effects on the town of Greenville, both positive and negative, for years to come, Simko said.
“The chance to comment and to make suggestions to Plum Creek should be appreciated and embraced in order to best protect the town from the negative impacts of the plan and to enhance the town through the opportunities offered,” Simko said.
To aid board members, Simko has drafted a list of recommendations for their consideration this week based on the results of the public hearing and discussions with department heads. The following is a modified and partial list of those recommendations:
- A document should be drafted which describes the intended methods of accessing land to reach points of interest and importance by the public. The document also would have an asset list for natural resources of public interest and recreational value which require continued or expanded public access to remain beneficial to the community and to the economy. The company could help in creation of the proposed Greenville Wood and Wood Products Cooperative and help in marketing to attract a value-added wood products manufacturer to the region, either in the Greenville Industrial Park or at the proposed Sapling Sawmill Site.
- It could assist in the development of the Greenville Industrial Park, in particular, in the acquisition of land for expansion of the Industrial Park; offer financial assistance for a downtown traffic congestion study and solution and continue its tradition of in-kind donation of equipment time and materials for trail development.
- Help the town in the development of a trail authority/land trust, which would hold assets such as real property or easements to cross private property, and also to receive funds for trail development and maintenance; assist the town to secure transportation enhancement funds to construct a bicycle path from Greenville to Lily Bay State Park, and work with the town, other land owners and snowmobile stakeholders to develop a network of permanent snowmobile trails around Moosehead Lake, both on and off Plum Creek land.
- Wherever resort development occurs, it should include public multiple-mode transportation routes and a landing for the Steamship Katahdin between Greenville and the resort.
- Help in reconstructing and enhancing the Greenville Junction Wharf, in particular, provide funding or the donation of suitable land nearby for trailer parking; consider covenants for continued public access to company woods roads; help in the development of the municipal airport, and provide land for a residential housing development within Greenville, and assist in its development.
