Bethel forum to focus on proposed land planning policy changes
The event is co-hosted by Main-Land Development Consultants and the Bethel Area Business Association

BETHEL- An upcoming public forum will allow area residents to learn more about massive reforms to Maine’s land development policy being proposed by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.

The February 25 forum, co-hosted by the Bethel Area Business Association and Main-Land Development Consultants, is the first in a series of seven forums around western Maine being put on by Main-Land –a Livermore Falls-based land planning firm – in response to the Maine DEP’s proposed changes to the Site Location of Development Law.

Darryl Brown, president/owner of Main-Land and a former legislator, said he initiated the series over concerns that the proposed changes to the law and rules related to it could drastically slow down – if not all together stop – development in the state.

The Act to Update the Site Location of Development Law, sponsored by Rep. Bob Duchesne (D- Hudson), does not yet have an LD (legislative document) number but is expected to be taken up this session, says Brown.

If enacted, it would limit large scale non-residential development to designated growth zones, urban compact zones, census designated areas or those areas served by public sewer systems. Meanwhile, if a residential development larger than 30 acres is proposed outside these zones, that development would be classified as a conservation subdivision, requiring the preservation of at least 55 percent of the land area.

The law changes would also prohibit the disturbances of slopes 20 percent or greater, limiting projects in Maine’s mountainous regions, like the greater Bethel area.

“In nearly four decades as a land planner, never have I been more worried about the impact of a piece of legislation than I am now,” explained Brown, who along with engineers from his firm, will be presenting an overview of the DEP’s proposal and its potential impacts on the Bethel region at the forum. “This would essentially prohibit development in rural Maine and the jobs and revenue it brings. In these trying economic times, we should be encouraging investment in our communities, not legislatively preventing it.”

DEP has held informational meetings on its plan in Portland and Augusta, which Brown and his staff attended, but he says many western Maine small business owners didn’t know about those meetings, or have the time to go to. He hopes through the forums, stakeholders will be educated about the law and rules changes that are proposed, and be empowered to participate in future public hearings when the state Legislature considers the act later this session.

“We want these forums to be educational, not accusatory,” stressed Brown. “From our perspective, there are both positive and negative portions of the MDEP’s proposal and it is our objective to simply present to people potential impacts of the changes in their area so that if they wish, they can be an informed voice in the process of developing this public policy that will shape the landscape of Maine’s future.”

The forum will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Bethel Inn Conference Center. It is open to the public and coffee and light refreshments will be provided.

Subsequent forums will be held in Farmington (March 3), South Paris (March 6), Bridgton (March 17), Skowhegan (March 19), Auburn (March 24) and Kingfield (March 26).

For more information, contact Darryl Brown at 897-6752 or darryl@main-landdevelopment.com.

ABOUT MAIN-LAND DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Main-Land Development Consultants has been providing land use planning services including surveying, soils testing, mapping, engineering, permitting and wastewater design to both public and private projects throughout western Maine and beyond since 1974. The company, now in its 35th year, is based in Livermore Falls and can be found online at www.main-landdevelopment.com. For more information, call (207) 897- 6752.