Report of April 10, 2021
Campground corrects misinformation; democracy by parking lot; fish farm's big fine
Tremont owners delete info from website claiming unapproved campground was operational
TREMONT - Is Acadia Wilderness Lodge’s small campground - 11 cabins on 1.6 acres approved last year by the Planning Board - a stalking horse for its much bigger ambition?
The camp was using language on its website as if its bigger proposal - a 154-site campground on abutting 43 acres - was already operational.
That caught the attention of the town’s code enforcement officer Jesse Dunbar, who alerted representatives of the company that it was promoting a campground on “50 acres,” which would be a violation of the land-use ordinance because it has not been approved by the Planning Board.
That and other misinformation - an incorrect address - were removed by James Hopkins, one of the owners from their website https://www.acadiawildernesslodge.com/ after calls from QSJ on Friday.
Hopkins and his wife received approval last year to operate the “cabins” on Kellytown Road. Last month it was disclosed that the owners wanted to build a second, much larger campground at 661 Tremont Road which partially abuts the smaller campground. But instead of using the 38 Kellytown Road address for the current Acadia Wilderness Lodge, the owners chose to use the address of the bigger proposed campground on the website.
A search for “38 Kellytown Road” on Google maps showed no campground, but Acadia Wilderness Lodge has pinned itself on the land behind 661 Tremont Road.
It also invited users to “Come grab a coffee with us at our historic farmhouse.”
Problem was the farmhouse is not on the property approved by the Planning Board. “I suppose we would invite campers over for a cup of coffee as we would with friends,” Hopkins said.
But the website language wasn’t nuanced.
It stated clearly, “Our campground offers a unique experience for guests. Community amenities like our nostalgic 1920s farmhouse and barn have been thoughtfully renovated.” That language appeared above a button inviting reservations.
Then there was the unexplained “Acadia Village.”
“Perfect for family activities or getting to know other guests staying in Acadia Village, our Village games are filled with a warm dose of outdoor nostalgia. Enjoy a few rounds of cornhole, giant Jenga, hopscotch and more.
None of this exists right now as the smaller campground is under construction. The photos on the website were not of the actual campground.
“I want to be clear that the website is only promoting the 11 yurts,” said James Hopkins. The approved cabins became yurts at some point in the free-forming enterprise which now bills itself as a “Environmentally-friendly Glamping Destination on Mt. Desert Island.”
Dunbar said, “The town does not have jurisdiction over a website. That is not a land-use issue.”
Nonetheless, the prudent side of Dunbar led him to advise changes.
Had the owners proceeded with the use of properties on the unapproved larger site as “amenities” it would have constituted a “land-use ordinance violation,” Dunbar said. He told that to representatives of the owners who removed most of the content on Friday and replaced them with just the words, “coming soon.”
The owners have hired one of Maine’s top law firms, Eaton Peabody, and one of the most experienced engineers on MDI to represent them.
More than 1,000 persons have signed a petition opposing the larger campground which envisions 72 RVs. Many say the proposal exceeds the residential-business zoning intended for smaller businesses which can be conducted out of one’s home.
The planning board has scheduled a site visit Tuesday April 13 followed by a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Meeting ID is 899-857-7726. Password Tremont.
Town meeting season brings angst amid second year of Covid
SOMESVILLE ,April 9, 2021 - Carmen Sanford felt last year’s town meeting in the parking lot of the high school was a travesty and does want a repeat performance.
She challenged an unsuspecting select board Monday to come up with ways to make this year’s event more inclusive.
“You are doing a disservice to the town community members by holding it up there . it’s not inclusive. It’s isolating. It’s feeling trapped. It doesn’t speak to a town’s community.
“I feel very strongly against that parking lot meeting … very strongly,” said Sanford, who is a member of the town Warrant Committee. “The idea that getting out of your car to get up there to ask a question was so intimidating. We had two people speak. One I totally thought was courageous …”
You may view last year’s meeting here. The meeting started about 20 minutes into the video.
Select board chair John B. Macauley and vice chair Matthew Hart agreed the meeting by parking was not ideal but they added that they also received some positive feedback.
Sanford replied that the town had not sought enough general feedback after the meeting. “I’m sure we could bring to you a petition if that’s what the Board of Selectmen needs to hear what the citizens want.”
“It’s a question of what we can do,” Macauley said. “What is the best course and this is the course we’ve chosen. I’d like to have more people in the room to weigh in on this.”
Matthew Hart said he thought it was awkward to see everyone sitting in their vehicles last year. He suggested that people be allowed to sit outside their vehicles “at the appropriate level of social distancing.
“At least we can see someone’s face,” he said.
Ironically, Sanford’s comments came during a regional outage of Spectrum wifi and many residents could not zoom into selectmen’s meeting Monday.
The board agreed to continue the discussion at its April 20 meeting. The annual town meeting is scheduled for May 3 and 4.
Last year, about 70 residents participated in their vehicles and at one time had to be asked not to leave early because the charter requires participation by no less than 50 persons. Some warrants got as few as 37 yes votes, amounting to less than 2 percent of the 2,000 registered voters in town.
The Town of Southwest Harbor, on the other hand, was able to get an extraordinary 38 percent of its electorate to vote on its warrants because it put the questions on a primary ballot. SWH canceled its town meeting last year.
This year SWH plans to conduct its town meeting in June at the firehouse by clearing out the equipment and opening the four bays. Chairs will be placed inside and outside the firehouse. SWH typically gets 65 to 80 voters to show up at its town meetings.
Tremont also will conduct its town meeting Wednesday May 5 at 6 p.m. at the MDI high school parking lot.
Giant aquafarm operator paid big fine in Washington state in 2019
SOMESVILLE - A reader tipped QSJ to a previously unreported $2.5 million fine paid by Cooke Aquaculture, the largest such sea-farming operator in Maine waters, only one month after it was fined a puny $156,000 in Maine.
In a previous article, QSJ wrote:
“It was a little over a year ago Cooke Aguaculture was fined $156,213 for 11 violations of its state permit. Cooke is the only sea-based salmon aquaculture firm in Maine, with pen farms in Washington and Hancock counties, as well as a hatchery on Gardner Lake in East Machias and a fish processing facility in Machiasport. It’s also a multi-billion-dollar company. A $156,213 fine is like a large tip at one of its company events.
The complete account of the Maine fine was reported by the Bangor Daily News …https://bangordailynews.com/2019/10/16/news/canadian-salmon-firm-will-pay-156k-over-fish-pen-violations-to-fund-salmon-restocking/
The Seattle Times reported details of the fine in Washington: https://theqsjournal.com/2021/01/02/fish-farming-in-down-east-pay-the-fine-take-the-cannolis/
The take-away is that anything mechanical can and will break at some point. Best not to have them break in our pristine coastline.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure …
SOMESVILLE - Golf bags, bicycles, coffee tables.
Those were among the items spotted by QSJ a year ago during Mount Deserts annual spring “cleanup.”
As posted on the town website:
“Spring clean-up coincides with school vacation EVERY YEAR. This year it will be April 19th through the 23rd, 2021. There will be only ONE pick-up of your items, so please have them out by 7:00 A.M on Monday April 19, 2021.
“Following is the schedule for the week. It is flexible and will vary depending upon on the volume of trash that is set out to be collected. Due to cost and time constraints, we are not able to backtrack so please pay particular attention to the schedule. There will be only one pick-up per residence.
Monday: We will start in Northeast Harbor.
Tuesday: We will start at the intersection of Routes 3 (Peabody Drive) & 198 (Sound Drive) and work towards Seal Harbor.
Wednesday: We will start in Otter Creek and work back towards Seal Harbor.
Thursday: We will start on Route 198 (Sound Drive) and work towards and into Somesville.
Friday: We will collect from the general area including Hall Quarry, Pretty Marsh and Beech Hill areas.
One truck will collect materials that include small amounts of asphalt shingles, tarpaper, sheet rock, insulation, plastic bags, and other non-wood materials. Amounts are limited to approximately the size of a pick-up truckload, 8' X 6' X 3.5', approximately six (6) cubic yards.
Another truck will collect a maximum of four tires per residence without rims (the rubber only) and metal appliances such as stoves, freezers, refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers. The doors must be completely removed from freezers and refrigerators. If they are not, they will not be picked up.
Another truck will collect burnable wood waste such as brush and tree limbs and a separate truck will collect lumber and other wooden materials. To be collected, all wood waste must be less than four-feet in length and less than six-inches in diameter. Amounts are limited to approximately the size of a pick-up truckload, 8' X 6' X 3.5', approximately six (6) cubic yards. Stumps will not be collected.
Engine blocks and vehicle motors with bases removed will be collected. They must be free of all fluids.
Another truck will collect bags of leaves on April 26, 2021.
All materials must be in suitable containers or bundles able to be handled by one person.
Materials that will not be collected include batteries of any kind, boats, hazardous waste (petroleum products, antifreeze, etc.), universal waste (TV's, computer components, etc.).
The onsite supervisor will determine what is acceptable and what is not. That person will also determine acceptable load sizes. If you have any questions please call 276-5743, 276-5744 or 276-5531. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.”
Lincoln’s Log
The first thing I read every day is “Letters from an American,” Heather Cox Richardson’s prodigious output of historical writings to help shape our personal obligations as citizens. It comes overnight in my inbox so often I read it in bed on my cell phone. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/
Two books I plan to re-read before summer:
“The Lobster Coast,” a 2004 book by Portland Press-Herald reporter Colin Woodard that serves as an overview of the history of Maine. The Bangor Daily News called it "thought-provoking" and "provocative," while Publishers Weekly compared it to William W. Warner's 1976 Beautiful Swimmers.
“Frankie’s Place: A Love Story” by Jim Sterba. Goodreads wrote, “Every summer, Frances FitzGerald, author of the Pulitzer Prize winner Fire in the Lake, heads north to Mount Desert Island to write. People visit her oasis often, and Jim Sterba, an acquaintance and veteran correspondent, comes to visit one year. But the next year it's two visits, and gradually he begins to fall for his host as much as her place! Icy plunges into the Somes Sound christen their island mornings, followed by long periods of writing, rigorous hikes, blueberry harvests, and scavenging for chanterelles.” (I was Frankie’s sister Joan FitzGerald’s editor at the Boston Globe. Jim Sterba and I belong to the same group at Northeast Harbor Golf Club.)
THE PUZZLE