Help set priorities for planning in Moosehead Lake region
To the Editor;
The Moosehead Lake region represents what I love most about Maine: It’s a place of endless outdoor opportunities — hiking, ATVing, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and more — and it supports some of our state’s biggest economic drivers like the forests products industry and tourism. If you care about this special part of the state as much as I do, please take a moment to fill out the Land Use Planning Commission’s survey that will help set priorities for planning across close to 17,000 acres near Moosehead Lake.
| The LUPC has kicked off a Moosehead Region Planning Project to possibly rezone the land that was originally slated for development under the Plum Creek (now Weyerhauser’s) Concept Plan for Moosehead Lake, which was abandoned in July 2020. NRCM believes that sprawling or misplaced development would be detrimental to the way of life and long-term economic viability of the area. Take the survey today and tell the LUPC to protect the region’s unique natural resources and to focus development in existing communities. Suggested messages for your comments about the Moosehead Region Planning Project:
Describe your connection to the region and be specific about which areas you visit or enjoy. There are zones on Lily Bay, Upper Wilson Pond, Indian Pond, and Blue Ridge near Rockwood that are vulnerable to develop but must be preserved to protect their ecological, scenic, or recreational value. Request that at all stages of the planning process a diversity of perspectives is considered so that the LUPC gets feedback that represents what all stakeholders truly want. Highlight the importance of the region as a tourism and outdoor recreation destination. Note that this is made possible by the conservation of the natural and scenic character of the region that would be spoiled by allowing heavy or sprawling development, or development in the wrong places. Encourage the LUPC to consider including “entry points” to Moosehead Lake from the south and the west along Route 15/6 in the regional planning process. Request that those roads also be zoned to maintain their scenic and natural character. Thanks for your commitment to protecting the nature of Maine. Melanie Sturm NRCM Forests & Wildlife director |