Petitioners seek delay of Moosehead project

Mainers who are concerned about a Plum Creek plan to develop 5,000 acres north of Moosehead Lake aren’t waiting for the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission to consider the project.

On Monday, a dozen people, including three former LURC commissioners, announced they had asked LURC to place a moratorium on all development in the Moosehead region until the commission completes a broad plan for the area’s future.

“This is a positive way to guide development,” said former LURC Commissioner Caroline Pryor of Mount Desert.

The petitioners are concerned about the scope for the Plum Creek proposal, which could include two resorts and 800 house lots. But that concern goes beyond the pending development to any that might be proposed in the future, Pryor said.

In 1997, while Pryor was serving on LURC, the board, which has responsibility for all development in Maine’s unorganized territories, decided to pursue long-range planning for several regions that seemed prime for development.

Such a plan has been completed for the Rangeley region, but not for Moosehead. The petitioners want to see the state delay granting any permits for Plum Creek’s project until that plan is complete, and thus have asked for a 180-day moratorium on development.

“We want to give LURC the opportunity to put some good plans and regulations in place,” Pryor said.

The petition was filed Friday, and LURC has not yet responded, Pryor said Monday.

Other petitioners are: Jon Lund, Hallowell, former attorney general and publisher of The Maine Sportsman; Jayne Lello, Sebec; Clinton “Bill” Townsend, Canaan, former LURC commissioner; Robert Kimber, Temple, author; Ellen Baum, Bowdoinham; Beren Harrington, Parlin Pond, former LURC commissioner; Linda McKee, former state legislator; David Mallett, Sebec, singer; Barbara Vincent, Greenville; and Bob and Diane Guethlen, Rockwood.