"If this area continues to strangle growth, we're all going to suffer in the end," Wayne Beckwith, a local building contractor, said during a packed hearing in the Greenville Community House.

Beckwith was among about 10 people who spoke Thursday in favor of Plum Creek's proposal to develop 272 acres of camp lots and to preserve in perpetuity 1,172 acres of land around this northern Piscataquis County pond that is located in Frenchtown Township.

But just as many people spoke against the development, saying that the project would have an adverse impact on wildlife, especially moose and the fishery, would ruin their paradise, affect local services, and would likely open the door to other similar developments on outlying ponds in the region.

Written comments on the concept plan will be accepted by LURC until Nov. 5. The commission, the planning board for unorganized territories, will then decide whether or not the proposal strikes a reasonable balance between conservation and development. It must also conclude that it meets the comprehensive land use plan and that no adverse impact will be created on existing uses.

"This project is out of whack," Catherine Johnson, North Woods project director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, said during a break in the hearing. Although the NRCM is not opposed to development on First Roach Pond, Johnson said the current proposal provides too much development and too little conservation.

Johnson suggested that Plum Creek make conservation easements for three other ponds in the immediate region and on the road between Lily Bay and Kokadjo, and decrease the number of lots to be developed on the North Shore. She feared that the subdivision request, if approved, might be the opening for similar requests by large landowners.

And her fear was echoed at least twice during the public hearing when camp owners on upper Wilson Pond said they had heard that Plum Creek was considering development there in the future.

David Arner, a year-round resident of First Roach Pond, said he was worried about the impact the project would have on water quality since the number of septic tanks would about double what is there now. He also asked who would control the conservation easement.

Arner was told that Plum Creek has asked the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands to hold the easement and that the agency is considering it.

Jill Martel, a camp owner and resident of Dedham, opposed the concept plan because of the fragile nature of its cold water fisheries and it wildlife habitats, as well as its quiet nature.

Also speaking against the project was James Glavine of Beaver Cove. Building in that region would do nothing to improve the long-term economic recovery of the region, he said. He cited pressures that would be placed on the existing infrastructure such as fire, police, medical and schools.

But Greenville Town Manager John Simko said there would be no problem providing services to the new development. "I don't see an impact on Greenville, what I do see is help for Greenville's economy," he said. Simko said Greenville is already providing fire protection services to the region funded through a cost-sharing formula paid by the Piscataquis County unorganized township budget. The town is purchasing a new firetruck with funds paid by outlying communities, he said.

"I see it as a positive thing all the way around," Simko said, as did others, including a handful of local realtors, who said that waterfront properties are few and far between.

David Sinclair, a businessman from Greenville, said that "Rural Maine needs people —- we need the people here." In support of the plan, he said, "It's not going to spoil anything, it's not going to hurt anything."

Businessman Steve Mason, a former member of LURC, said he would be amazed if the committee could find a reason to turn down the concept plan.

The concept plan also has the support of the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce and the Moosehead Development Council.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Friday, October 26, 2001 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."