ORONO – State regulators agreed Wednesday to reopen the public record on the latest proposed changes to Plum Creek’s controversial development plan for the Moosehead Lake region.

Last week, the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission floated a series of changes to Plum Creek’s proposal that, if implemented, could help the company win regulatory approval for its historic housing and resort plan.

Beginning June 11, the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on those changes. The public comment period is expected to extend through July 11.

Plum Creek is seeking LURC authorization for a 30-year development plan that includes 975 house lots and two large resorts in the Moosehead region. Although the largest development proposal in state history, the plan put forward by the company also would protect more than 400,000 acres of forestland in the region through easements or land sales to conservation groups.

During deliberative sessions held last week, the commission and LURC staff did not propose reducing the number of house lots or the 1,050 resort accommodations proposed for Big Moose Mountain or Lily Bay.

The commission and staff did, however, recommend several significant changes to Plum Creek’s proposal. They include:

. Requiring the company and its conservation partners to complete several privately negotiated land preservation deals encompassing roughly 300,000 acres within 45 days of final LURC approval of the concept plan. This would supplement the 91,000 acres of conservation land Plum Creek has offered to donate to offset the impact of development, as required for concept plan approval.

. Cutting in half – from 110 to 55 – the number of house lots proposed for Long Lake, located between Rockwood and Jackman. Those house lots would be shifted to other areas proposed for development.

. Removing nearly 3,000 acres from the 4,358-acre development zone on Lily Bay, adding that land to the acreage slated for conservation. The total number of house lots and resort accommodations at Lily Bay would remain the same.

Representatives of several groups opposed to Plum Creek’s original plan have criticized the commission’s proposed changes as continuing to allow too much development. They have urged the commission to separate out the privately negotiated conservation deals, which are expected to generate $35 million for Plum Creek.

Plum Creek representatives, meanwhile, have been mostly tight-lipped about the recommended changes to their plan other than to say they have concerns. As the applicant, Plum Creek could reject the key changes but in the process would risk a LURC denial of the concept plan.

“We want to make sure it’s viable from both a forestry standpoint and a development standpoint,” said Luke Muzzy, senior land asset manager for Plum Creek and an architect of the plan.

The commission will take into consideration comments from the public and intervening parties, as well as Plum Creek, before deciding whether to amend the plan further later this summer. A final vote on Plum Creek’s application could come in late summer or early fall.

To read the list of recommended changes to Plum Creek’s plan, go to http://www.maine.gov/doc/lurc.

kmiller@bangordailynews.net

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