Flimsy policies a threat to Maine woods

In the June 14 BDN, four authors penned an opinion piece titled “Preserving Maine’s North Woods.” The authors claimed that it is the “new generation of large landowners” who are fighting hard against the Land Use Regulation Commission and its Comprehensive Land Use Plan review process. Much to the contrary, landowners in Maine’s Unorganized Territory are fighting hard to protect the current land-use plan, one that is already working well for the majority of owners and users of the jurisdiction.

The column concentrated mostly on two assertions: the “helter-skelter development of Maine’s wild lands” and the motivations of new landowners that are not in the best interests of Maine. When one looks at the facts, neither is true.

The argument that development is spreading across the jurisdiction in any manner, let alone in a “helter-skelter” manner is simply untrue. While some development has occurred in the Unorganized Territory, it is important to note that based on LURC’s own building permit data, development peaked between 1986 and 1990. It has declined significantly since, especially in the interior of the jurisdiction.

The vast majority of new dwellings are near paved public roads, just where you would expect and where most would agree is appropriate. In fact, more than 80 percent of the dwellings in LURC’s data are located in a township that has a paved public road running through it. It is therefore unfair to propose the punishing changes proposed in the draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan in an attempt to cure a problem that doesn’t exist.

In addition, conditions today are very different from what they were in previous decades. Maine has the highest amount of land protected by conservation easements in the nation: nearly 2 million acres. These lands are permanently protected from development.

It is true that there are many new landowners in Maine. Like all landowners before them, they invest in timberland for an economic return. It is unfair and untrue to characterize them as somehow not as good as previous landowners or to accuse them of exclusively fighting the new draft.

LURC’s work sessions on the new CLUP that ended May 8 were very well attended, and opposition to the draft was voiced by a numerous and diverse audience. It included landowners large and small, residents of the Unorganized Territory, sportsmen and guides. The draft CLUP was rejected by a broad and inclusive swath of owners and users of the mostly private lands in the Unorganized Territory.

Important also is that fact that dozens of community leaders, such as rural state legislators, county commissioners, town councilors and even former LURC commissioners, spoke in opposition to the draft plan. Joining them also were representatives and members of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, Maine Snowmobile Association, Maine Professional Guides Association and ATV Maine.

The draft is also proposing limiting the changes camp and homeowners can make to their buildings and jeopardizing the opportunity to make structures more environmentally compatible through such measures as new septic systems, setbacks and shore-land improvements.

LURC’s draft proposes to pursue a new role in applying aesthetics requirements and complicated “landscape level” wildlife habitat schemes – approaches landowners of all sizes found to be very worrisome.

LURC staff has failed to capture what is important to many people that make a living in the jurisdiction. Language in the current CLUP that recognized the need for a balanced approach to development has been eliminated from the new draft.

We believe this region is a special place due to the collective efforts of those who have owned and managed the land for centuries and that the greatest threat to Maine’s northern woods are not landowners, but instead unwarranted and subjective regulations and policy contained in LURC’s draft of the CLUP. Furthermore, it needs to recognize the enormous good that has happened in the Unorganized Territory, including continued open access for the public, wildlife research initiatives, vast areas protected through conservation easements and its healthy, sustainably managed working forest.

The participation of hundreds of people and their outspoken opposition to LURC’s draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan at the recent public work sessions held around the state give LURC license to make real, substantive changes to the draft plan for the benefit of people who live in, work in and use the jurisdiction. We hope LURC listened.

Bob Meyers is executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association. Terry Walters of Hollis is a forester and small landowner.