Weekly FACT
In a recent email question, the Coalition was asked about the current regulations on the acres of working forest within Plum Creek’s land – isn’t that area already protected from development? The answer is no.

The 382,000 acres which would be zoned ND/WF (working forest) in the Plum Creek Plan is currently under the LURC (Land Use Regulation Commission) land use category of M-GN – general management, which allows for residential and other types of development under LURC standards.

The Plum Creek Plan asks LURC to change the acreage from general management to the ND/WF zone, eliminating the possibility of residential development within the 382,000 acres.

The bottom line is that the Plum Creek Plan would protect the 382,000 acres as a “no residential development” zone, which is a protection it does not have today under the LURC M-GN category.

Dr. Charles Colgan Economic Analysis of the Plum Creek Plan
Dr. Colgan’s report “Estimated Economic Impacts of Implementing the Proposed Plum Creek Rezoning Plan in the Moosehead Lake Area” is an excellent resource for learning about the economic realities of the Plan.

In his summary statement, Dr. Colgan reports, “Overall, the Plum Creek proposed rezoning Plan would likely have significant positive effects on a regional economy that has been experiencing economic difficulty. The development components of the Plan are consistent with the economic development policies of the State of Maine which are directed in part on the long term need to bolster rural economies that have historically relied primarily on extractive resource industries, industries which are now having an increasingly difficult time succeeding in the market.”

This newsletter will publish more analysis from Dr. Colgan’s report in future editions.

Two Letters Help Tell the Story of Plum Creek
Coalition members are strongly encouraged to write letters to the editor of your local newspapers. Letters in newspapers are an effective way to education the public on the facts of the Plum Creek Plan. Here are two letters which recently appeared:

Portland Press Herald 10/9/05
“I would rather see Plum Creek Timber Co.’s development plan come to fruition than have the owners of the land “pull a Quimby” and shut off all use to everyone.

Roxanne Quimby bought a township in northern Maine to preserve wilderness and she shut it off for everyone’s use. When a “Quimby” is done, everyone loses.

The land is meant to be used, and the owners of the land should be able to put it to the best usage.

What if you owned a big piece of buildable land of many acres and were told that you would have to leave it as it is and not use it for anything except for nature’s use?”
Bill Murphy Gray, Maine

Excerpt from Bangor Daily News 10/11/05
“What if we impose restrictions that force sale to a new generation of owners?

Although the Plum Creek zoning proposal needs public input, it appears to provide a balance between public and private interests and seems to lean towards long term stewardship.

A plan providing for 98 percent of a 426,000 acre parcel to be zoned for operational timberlands, open to public recreation for the next 30 to 70 years, is certainly worthy of consideration.”
Stephen Cole Hermon and Lily Bay

Coalition Information Center
Location:

Community House 6 Lakeview Street Greenville, Maine
Frances Turner, Information Center staffer

P.O. Box 944 Greenville, Maine 04441

• Local (207) 695-2264
• Toll Free 1-888-702-7466

www.preservegrowme.org

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Please forward this to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and organizations you belong to and help us spread the word. Any questions or comments may be directed to Edie Leary eleary@eatonpeabody.com or Will Gardiner wgardiner@eatonpeabody.com or by calling The Coalition Information Center at 1-888-702-7466 or (207) 695-2264.