Greenville awaits OK of land purchase

GREENVILLE – Town officials are hoping the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission will act swiftly on Greenville’s permit application regarding the use of property in Moosehead Junction Township for a public works garage and recycling center.

Voters in June gave selectmen the go-ahead to purchase a building and lot owned by David Sinclair at a cost of $125,000. Sinclair asked that the town close on the property by Aug. 24 or else he said he would remove the property from the market, according to Town Manager John Simko.

The only problem, according to Simko, is that since the property is located in unorganized territory, the permit application must be reviewed by LURC. The Board of Selectmen made it clear they would not close on the property until approval was received from the state agency.

LURC staff have no issues with the proposal, but as part of the permit application process, the project also must receive comment for a number of other agencies, including the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Department of Health for the installation of a septic system and the Bureau of Land and Water Quality, Department of Environmental Protection. That could take precious time, according to Simko.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Simko said Monday about meeting Sinclair’s deadline. Board Chairman Richard Gould and Simko have contacted each of the participating agencies asking that the permit application be expedited so the town does not miss this opportunity.

Other than the permit application, everything is a go, Simko said. He said the application does not need to go before the commission because it is development that is allowed in that area and can be permitted by LURC staff.

Selectmen have scheduled a special town meeting at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 5, in the municipal building, to clean up three municipal issues not associated with the purchase of the property.

Residents will be asked to approve a flood plan review as required by law, resolve a boundary line agreement with a landowner on the East Road, and approve an amendment to the recreational facilities ordinance. The latter change will make it illegal for anyone to swim and dive off the dock in Thoreau Park.

Simko said that through an oversight the dock was not included in the original ordinance, although the boardwalk was included. The dock was placed there to encourage boaters to use the downtown, he said. Instead, boaters are avoiding the dock because it is being used for swimming.