Staff Writer
Changes are not needed in the comprehensive land use plan used by the state agency to regulate construction and other development in the unorganized territories, according to speakers at a Friday meeting sponsored by the Maine Forest Products Council.
Aroostook Republican photo/Debra Walsh
Patrick Strauch, executive director of the Maine Forest Products Council, uses a map of Maine to illustrate his group’s opposition to a new plan to regulate development in the state’s unorganized territories. Strauch spoke Friday during a meeting in Stockholm again the plan proposed by the state Land Use Regulation Commission.
About 25 people, representing property owners in the unorganized territories and legislative interests attended the 90-minute Stockholm session about the new land use plan proposed by the state Land Use Regulation Commission.
“LURC staff believe they haven’t done enough (regulating),” said Patrick Strauch, executive director of the MFPC.
Opponents of LURC’s proposed revised comprehensive plan claim state officials want to establish a national park in northern Maine.
The new plan exhibits a lack of understanding of forest management and encourages only “primitive uses” of the area. Strauch said there has to be room for other uses, such as snowmobiling, right along with hiking and backpacking.
In one region, 10 permits for construction have been issued in 35 years, Strauch said, citing the small percentage in development versus forest management.
The land use plan’s drafting process has not involved the residents of the unorganized territories, Strauch said.
The forest products council executive said that the current land use plan should be retained. He urged those at the session to attend upcoming workshops and other meetings that will be held on the proposal, which will be considered by the next Maine Legislature.
A private landowner, Douglas Denico of Madison, also spoke at the meeting, saying that approval of any building improvements and conversions will be more difficult under the new plan.
“LURC wants a camp to have no facilities, no running water, and no generation (capability),”said Denico. “I had retired and thought I had a pretty good life in front of me.”
Also attending the meeting was state Rep. Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, and Democratic legislative candidate Gary Pelletier of Cross Lake, who opened the meeting.
Jackson announced Monday that he will hold a forum to air concerns about LURC’s revised plan on Sunday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Maine at Fort Kent’s Nadeau Hall. LURC officials will take questions about the plan and the review process, according to Jackson’s announcement.
A workshop also is planned at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 28 at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center. Several other sessions are planned throughout the state.
