November 08, 2024
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Planners table site-plan review of police station

DOVER-FOXCROFT – The planning board Thursday tabled until March 4 a review of a revised site plan for the new Dover-Foxcroft Police Station which is occupied and open for business.

The review was ordered in November 2003 by Chief Justice Nancy Mills in response to a complaint filed in Piscataquis County Superior Court by Robert Berta, who lives on River Street behind the station.

The local planning board in 2002 approved the original site plan for the new station on West Main Street despite objections from Berta. The resident argued that the town had not provided enough information to the board for it to make an informed decision regarding specific issues.

Berta than took the matter to the local appeals board, which upheld the decision of its sister board.

That prompted him to file a complaint in court. In that complaint, Berta argued that the town did not provide enough information to the board, that it failed to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law, and that the appeals board erred by not accepting evidence from him regarding the town’s application.

Mills sided with Berta and remanded the site plan review back to the local planning board. The matter had been scheduled for action this week, but Berta informed the board in a letter that neither he nor his attorney, Edward Bearor, were able to attend the meeting on such short notice.

In his letter, Berta requested that the planning board investigate the lack of buffering between the station’s Main Street parking lot and his home. He said the lack of buffering allowed the headlights of cruisers to “continually shine” into his home. Berta also asked for a copy of the complete interior and exterior plans for the station.

Regarding Berta’s notification of the meeting, Connie Sands, code enforcement officer, advised the board that notices were mailed to all abutters of the property two weeks in advance.

Since the planning board has delayed other reviews when requested, board members agreed to table the matter until next month.


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