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The Lamoine Quaterly - January 2005
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Gravel Pit Expands, Others Renewed,

More Subdivisions Approved,

Junkyards Renewed & Removed,

Indoor Riding Arena Proposed,

Home Occupations Occupy Board

Gravel Pit Expands, Others Renewed

(Lamoine) - The Planning Board gave final approval to Harold MacQuinn, Inc. to expand a gravel extraction operation on Douglas Highway by several acres. Final Site Plan Review approval came in November.
The plan calls for expansion of the so called Kittridge Pit onto a 400-foot strip of land owned by Ralph and Mary Miro. The entrance onto Route 184 will remain the same, though the cut into the hillside will be larger.
The permitting process started in May 2004 under the gravel extraction ordinance. Because of the size of the expansion, the Site Plan Review Ordinance kicked into effect, and the filing requirements became quite a bit more complicated.
During the public hearing the Planning Board heard concerns about the potential impact of the gravel mining on groundwater sources, especially for the Cold Spring Water Company which owns land abutting the lot being mined. The Conservation Commission noted that a groundwater study is under way and more information about the potential impact on the groundwater supply might be available at a later date.
In its discussion the Planning Board felt that if at a later time there proves to be some impact on the public groundwater supply, it could be addressed through the gravel extraction permitting renewal process. The Board voted 4-1 to grant the Site Plan Review permit which is good for the life of the pit, an estimated 25-years. Gravel extraction permits must be renewed every three years.
The Planning Board also gave renewal approval to a number of existing gravel pits during the fall, including a pit operated by RF Jordan on Lamoine Beach Road, five other pits operated and owned by Harold MacQuinn, Inc. and one of the two pits owned and operated by John W. Goodwin, Jr.
The board postponed action on another gravel pit owned and operated by Mr. Goodwin because it did not have enough information on which to act. It’s expected that information will arrive in time for action at the January 4, 2005 meeting.
Another pit application before the board has been tabled, and the permit for the pit extended 60-days because the applicant is new to the permitting process. Michael Keene obtained a pit in the Marlboro area from the late J. Aubrey Davis. The Planning Board found Mr. Keene’s submission to be lacking some information and asked him to gather that information and return to the board with it. The permit expires at the end of 2004, and with the temporary extension, Mr. Keene should be able to operate through February.
More Subdivisions Approved
Road Width Waiver sought on one

(Lamoine) — Lamoine’s Planning Board gave the go-ahead this fall to four subdivisions with a total of 35-house lots. Marketing has begun on at least one of the subdivisions while road construction has begun on two others.
Keven Ireland of Bangor won approval for an 11-lot subdivision bordering the town line with Ellsworth. The subdivision will be called Beal Estates, named after Mr. Ireland’s grandparents Ralph & Golda Beal who lived on the property for many years. Though the property is divided by the Ellsworth/Lamoine line, the entire subdivision is located on the Lamoine side, and the City of Ellsworth Planning Board waived intervention rights in the approval process.
The Planning Board gave final approval in November to another 11-lot subdivision called Boulder Cove Estates being developed by Anthony and Elizabeth Belch. The subdivision is located off Shore Road and leads to the Jordan River. The Belches are familiar developers to the Planning Board, having constructed the Applewood Shores subdivision on Douglas Highway. Clearing has begun for the subdivision road, and surveying the lots is under way. It’s not clear when the lots will go on the market.
The third 11-lot subdivision was approved for another familiar developer—Steve Joy. His project called Marlboro Mist II will enter Partridge Cove Road (Route 204) and road construction is under way in earnest for that project. The Planning Board, though, has withheld final approval on the subdivision road design, preferring to come up with an understanding on the final road width requirement. The ordinance standard calling for a 34-foot road seems to apply only to paved roads, and the proposed subdivision will be served by a gravel road. The Planning Board should decide in January on the final design of the road.
The Board also approved a 2-lot subdivision by Gary Murphy of Partridge Cove Road. Mr. Murphy recently constructed a home on a 5-acre parcel and wished to divide that into a couple more lots. The Planning Board gave final approval to that plan in November.
Junkyards Renewed, Removed

(Lamoine) - With no testimony at a public hearing in December, the Selectmen renewed two automobile graveyard permits to Pro Auto Center. The yards are located behind Pro Auto on Douglas Highway and behind property owned by Eleanor Norris off Marlboro Beach Road and have been permitted for a number of years. Recent state law changes will move the permitting period to October.
Meanwhile, a junkyard licensed to Reginald McDevitt has been discontinued as Mr. McDevitt said he’s disposed of the vehicles.
A violation notice by Code Enforcement Officer Dennis Ford to Wesley Bentivoglio of North Lamoine has resulted in the removal of several junk vehicles from his property. State law requires an automobile graveyard permit if more than two unregistered/un-inspected vehicles are stored.
Indoor Riding Arena Proposed

(Lamoine) — A Lamoine family wants to construct an enclosed riding arena on the family farm they own on Mud Creek Road. Susan Arthur and Adam Fronczak presented a preliminary application to the Lamoine Planning Board in December outlining their plans for the riding arena. The Board made a site visit to the property in December and will look over the final application for completeness in January. If the application is found complete, the Board will set a public hearing date and take final action, perhaps at its February meeting.
The proposed arena is 11,520 square feet in size, and would be constructed of metal and wood. No new entrance is proposed off Mud Creek Road, and no plumbing facilities are proposed for the new building. Ms. Arthur operates Iron Slipper Farm on the property and is a horse enthusiast.
In looking over the pre-application, the Board asked Arthur and Fronczak to indicate where the parking area would be and show how many people would be on site at any given time. That information is expected in time for the January 2005 Planning Board meeting. Arthur and Fronczak said they hope to be able to get approval to complete construction during the winter months.
Once the Planning Board schedules a public hearing, abutting landowners will get notification of the hearing date via certified mail.
Home Occupations Occupy Board

(Lamoine) — The Lamoine Building and Land Use Ordinance defines home occupation as: “an occupation or profession which is customarily conducted on or in a residential structure or property and which 1) clearly incidental to and compatible with the residential use of the property and surrounding residential uses; and 2) which employs no more than two (2) persons other than family members residing in the home.” The ordinance says the Planning Board is the issuing authority for home occupations, but it doesn’t give any more guidance than that.
The Board dealt with two home occupation requests in December. John Karst of Walker Road will come back with a more complete application in January for his business which caters to sporting dogs. He’s asking to post a sign, and for some retail business at his home.
The second application came from Donald Bamman, a house appraiser who just moved to Orchard Lane. The Planning Board felt the nature of Mr. Bamman’s home based business did not require a full application review, thus giving his home occupation tacet approval.
The Board discussed more exploration in the area of home occupation as part of possible ordinance changes to be presented to town meeting. An application separate from the current construction application might be the result, as well as language to give guidance on how to proceed with such requests.