Revised Plum Creek plan still massive

AUGUSTA – Ending months of anticipation and speculation, Plum Creek Timber Co. released details Tuesday of a scaled-down but still massive development proposal for nearly 1,000 houses, additional recreational trails and a world-class Nordic resort near Moosehead Lake.

Plum Creek officials said the revisions to their Moosehead Lake plan reflect the recurring themes expressed by residents and organizations during the past year to permanently protect more forests while still jump-starting a sluggish local economy through strategic, well-placed development.

Representatives of some environmental groups remained critical of the proposal, which at more than 420,000 acres is the largest development in Maine history.

The company’s new 30-year development plan, which is subject to state regulatory approval, calls for:

. 480 shorefront lots on Moosehead and nearby lakes, ponds and streams plus 495 “backwoods” lots. The original proposal had 575 shorefront lots.

. A resort on Big Moose Mountain offering Nordic skiing, bicycling, golf and snowmobiling.

. A significantly scaled-back resort on the Lily Bay peninsula.

. Conservation easements on more than 400,000 acres in the region guaranteeing public access for hunting, hiking, fishing and other traditional activities.

. Permanent public access to 144 miles of hiking and snowmobile trails.

Tuesday’s media event was the second Plum Creek has held in advance of submitting its revised plans to the Land Use Regulation Commission sometime next week.

The company unveiled plans last week to partner with The Nature Conservancy, the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Forest Society of Maine on the conservation easements.

Plum Creek on Tuesday also made some significant deletions to its original proposal, eliminating plans for campgrounds and for rental cabins in remote areas, and more than halving the number of lakes and ponds where development will happen.

“It strikes a balance,” said Luke Muzzy, Plum Creek’s senior land asset manager. “It’s conservation, economic development, and, of course, it works for us.”

Plum Creek enlisted the help of economic development officers, a Greenville-area business owner and the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine to talk up the revised plan during a press conference in the state Capitol.

“Wow. As a lifelong resident of Greenville, that was my reaction to this plan,” said Craig Watt, a Greenville business owner and member of the group Friends of Moosehead. Watt called Plum Creek’s plan “amazing” and said it would help preserve traditions and the region’s high quality of life.

Others in the crowd were less enthusiastic.

“My first impression is they really didn’t listen to Maine people,” said Cathy Johnson of the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

Johnson said that, contrary to Plum Creek officials’ statements, residents were concerned with both the number of house lots and their location. In a report released last month, NRCM called on Plum Creek to reduce by up to two-thirds the number of house lots and to cluster them all around existing communities.

Diane Guethlen, who moved to a house on Moosehead Lake with her husband 15 years ago, said she fears that the scope of the development as well as its location may hurt the unique character of the region. She also questioned whether buyers of second homes will spend much money at local businesses.

“There is already enough development on the lake,” Guethlen said. “What makes it special and makes people want to come there is that it is remote and has that wild feeling.”

But Mark Scarano, executive director of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, said he believes the resorts, the growth in nature-based tourism as well as a sawmill still included in the plan will help reverse disturbing trends in the local economy.

“What does continued low wages and what does a loss of population do to the character of the region?” Scarano asked.

Jim Lehner, the general manager of Plum Creek’s Northeast region, said the 975 house lots would be developed over 10 years to alleviate concerns of a sudden build-out in the region.

Lehner said the proposed resort at Lily Bay had been reduced in scope dramatically and would not begin to take shape for at least seven years after the plan receives regulatory approval.

If accepted by LURC, which oversees development in the Unorganized Territory, Plum Creek’s rezoning request will set in motion one of the largest and most anticipated regulatory review processes in Maine history.

Scoping sessions held by LURC last summer drew more than 1,000 people, and some people are predicting that even larger crowds will show up for LURC public hearings and meetings on the matter.

To view the plan online, visit: www.plumcreekplanmaine.com.