[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6513210,"mediaKeyId","5074675-a3bb1c5820e0e367669777bc1eef94ba","parentId",5074675,"title","Planning Board continues debate on utility‑scale solar ordinance, setbacks and impact fees; seeks developer feedback","audioSeconds",3347,"startMs",1033000,"endMs",4380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5074675-a3bb1c5820e0e367669777bc1eef94ba&start=1033&end=4380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5074675-a3bb1c5820e0e367669777bc1eef94ba/thumbnail_1033000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6513210/Maine/Planning-Board-continues-debate-on-utilityscale-solar-ordinance-setbacks-and-impact-fees-seeks-developer-feedback","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513210-9654ee419a93eded3bbd6742e71060c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452826&Signature=Lgv2jUWaY-dLL2GxHP2Xa4h16knfRaV4iZQJWGP1ryF48yWs6g~ADGHIycZxpGbO-gAkXgBNjoqGppW-fMIeUNOvuZt5J-hb2hrChxZARqEL0K5W4Q9BwaGcA1G~1qzgEZgCW26je~SLLxYpW9X5XZfP6HevhSa1Tld4-gMUTzCn4zMetK~rXDW2HacwgLOVjzgVaMOkDjWs9cwZ4SgfkYoAY6LxZPf1iqj2-ktF2pjKlBug1ZJJjiwEOVRjTsLWGbGQiOd1XQDaAZ65Qt9cVjrS~pUFY4mtT-OARtd3NrZwprdpQnU3lcgPa4Ux3YNj5bWeRxar~PJD9cTJIb6lXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Skowhegan, ME ","date","2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Skowhegan Planning Board continued review of proposed edits to a utility‑scale solar ordinance, discussing setback distances, waiver language, erosion control, emergency response measures and the potential for impact fees to cover local infrastructure needs.

Planning staff presented a revised draft that reduced a previously discussed 400‑foot setback to 250 feet from property lines, while retaining a waiver process that could reduce the effective setback to a 100‑foot minimum from a dwelling where abutters submit written waivers. Board members debated whether setback language should reference property lines or dwellings and whether waivers signed by abutting landowners should allow arrays to be placed closer to neighboring properties.

Members discussed environmental and land‑use protections: the draft calls for developers to avoid impaired streams (staff proposed replacing a specific stream name with the generic category “impaired stream”), and it increases topsoil and erosion‑control protections. The draft also limits foundation methods to pile‑driven or ballast‑block footings to minimize soil disturbance where appropriate.

Board members and staff discussed emergency services and fire suppression. The draft adds the fire chief (or designee) to review and requires either on‑site water for suppression or a dedicated fire‑protection impact fee held in a restricted town account to improve nearby suppression capacity. Members raised concerns about foam‑based suppression agents (shelf life, environmental contamination risk) and asked staff to seek alternatives and guidance.

The board debated whether to treat impact fees as a separate ordinance or as fees in the town fee schedule. Staff reminded the board that Maine law requires a capital improvements plan, a dedicated fund and refund provisions if impact fees are collected; several members said impact fees should be narrowly targeted to identified infrastructure needs (sewer, roads, fire protection) and cautioned against creating barriers to development.

Members asked staff to circulate the draft to developers and to organizations including Maine Farmland Trust and to convene a panel discussion with developers, engineers and state representatives later this summer or early fall; staff said she had received commitments from one developer and some technical experts to participate. The board did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting and requested more stakeholder feedback before scheduling a public hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Board June 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Skowhegan planners reviewed revisions to a proposed utility‑scale solar ordinance including setbacks, waiver language, erosion controls, emergency services and the possible use of impact fees; the board agreed to seek developer and stakeholder feedback and to host a community conversation.","taxTitle","Planning Board, Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine","taxId",72629,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6513213,"Skowhegan Planning Board approves Oak Pond Estate 7‑lot subdivision with condition from neighboring town",608,338000,946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5074675-a3bb1c5820e0e367669777bc1eef94ba&start=338&end=946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5074675-a3bb1c5820e0e367669777bc1eef94ba/thumbnail_338000.jpg","/articles/6513213/Maine/Skowhegan-Planning-Board-approves-Oak-Pond-Estate-7lot-subdivision-with-condition-from-neighboring-town","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513213-dcec7ddf23baf8bd346bcdac414f4704/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452826&Signature=CHreDw5B4SoA-4L4Kp7fjoLr3gDgG1cqHohsg27e0vNTO9tT6-w5CWTQ-UVEZpCJKj1c-PZ0Q-CmRvDge1RQWzJCxfFTfDN4mQYrAwqx5EX6VkdQULJ8YRTK8R-FJH42f5lF4L7pVxNvnltFnqbFrNrNlmCCUfBmHDOjGQboH9iGC01pNR7YQK9FYwWLWRhTtxjQS-Nydg2tjSvgsfHSDN86aGPvcWFiHGGZ2vycKHr6~f-iq9h68ZiAeN5ulQAtwZdv9wTJwMVEiqN4PmMcHseImB2Kh1N3rieIft~C5lM6x8Xg8ZAYByrM11iclAKB9OLWfDelRqMDDkvVUiDWOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Skowhegan Planning Board approved the Oak Pond Estate Subdivision application, a seven‑lot development on Route 2 and Oak Pond Road submitted by Maine Highlands Development LLC on behalf of Asset Investments, LLP, with conditions that the neighboring town of Canaan provide written acknowledgement or approval.

Paul Bridal, a civil engineer and owner of Green Highlands Development representing Asset Investments and partner Brett Davis, presented the plan and described the seven lots as ranging from about 1.08 to 1.32 acres. Bridal said the subdivision footprint covers about 8.18 acres and that the developer will retain roughly 48 acres of the larger parcel.

Bridal told the board the proposal includes an on‑site fire pond sized to meet the fire department's storage requirement (he said the town required 35,000 gallons and the pond was designed to store about 36,200 gallons). He said most of the pond water will be drawn from an existing wetland and that soils tests were favorable for storage. The presentation noted a small portion of the fire pond lies across the town line in Canaan and that preliminary plans and applications had been shared with Canaan officials for review.

Bridal reported wetland impact for the project as roughly 3,647 square feet, which he said falls below the Maine DEP permitting threshold cited by staff (the plan stayed under the 40,000‑square‑foot trigger he referenced). The board and the applicant discussed hydrant connection details, driveway coordination and space for emergency vehicle turnarounds.

Jason Finley (site‑plan review committee) requested that future individual driveways be coordinated directly with the road commissioner; the applicant confirmed that request and said the required turnaround space for emergency vehicles on the rear lots (lots 6 and 7) was added to the final plans.

A nearby property owner, Lee Hawes of 1277 Canyon Road, spoke as an abutter and asked whether the subdivision would affect wetlands adjacent to his property. Bridal said the area near Hawes’s parcel will be retained and that no development is proposed in the wetland area near Lake George.

The board moved to approve the permit with the condition that Canaan provide a formal acknowledgment or approval; a second was recorded and the chair called for a vote. The board’s raise‑of‑hands vote passed with no opposition and the chair issued the permit subject to the stated condition and the site‑plan conditions noted on the record.

The board asked staff to follow up with Canaan for written confirmation. The applicant indicated he would expect an informal email acknowledgment but agreed that formal written approval was to be secured for the record.

No further appeals or additional permitting steps were decided at the meeting; the applicant will continue coordination with review agencies and local officials as noted.","The Planning Board granted a site-plan/subdivision permit for Oak Pond Estate, a seven‑lot subdivision on Route 2/Oak Pond Road, subject to written acknowledgment or approval from the Town of Canaan and with site-plan conditions requested by local reviewers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6513218,"Skowhegan Planning Board elects officers; discusses alternates and staffing",148,128000,276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5074675-a3bb1c5820e0e367669777bc1eef94ba&start=128&end=276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5074675-a3bb1c5820e0e367669777bc1eef94ba/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6513218/Maine/Skowhegan-Planning-Board-elects-officers-discusses-alternates-and-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513218-eed773b2ee1f64259ff2099936a47830/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452826&Signature=ljUPe~2ku3EIAsuVepYK9j6a-~2w7Oi0pl-bBBLm~sQfJ9DIob3X~LRmKE-NmWWuaSgO7Q0i0Yc~a3u258j7NDKzWVBjvNQDx7bk0CbcZqjbEVeSbQ58WJLT2bx55O03Z4qpEDic3ZImQudrLo~DaPgtXwz~nO0Qug-rk8d1GdQV-smFQBq4lVCvkvtT6pc7NePBtCe9RdnwWsPC4uSLxJnyM3MD0hFEy5-e931sC6k0V0d8AtVE~LRBfpFwLBP2rTNdlWwubJDK-mE1cl-A1fHVWFEmnmnBFoTSZyjHDi5iJIlclMSGXvy1PNV3nOSFYhdBwHhsyQRd-3D5PQrCcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Skowhegan Planning Board held organizational elections at the start of its meeting and filled the three officer positions by majority vote.

Board members nominated and elected a chairman, a vice chair and a secretary. Andrew Thorpe was nominated and seconded for secretary and was confirmed by the board. The board recorded no opposition during the roll-call-style raise-of-hands votes and the chair said, “We we have our offices.”

The board noted one regular member, Jeff, was absent and that Michelle was acting in his place. The chair reported two individuals have inquired about alternates and that those appointments will be decided by the town Selectmen at their next meeting.

Planning staff and board members also discussed internal staffing and meeting logistics. Staff said they will work to set clearer deadlines for application submissions so late filings do not force additional or longer meetings. The board discussed reducing its meeting schedule from twice monthly to once monthly with a standing cut-off for agenda items and possibly moving meeting start times (options discussed included 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.), but no formal change was adopted.

A board member described budget pressures that make longer or additional meetings costly because overtime for staff is billed to the Planning Department budget; staff noted the office currently budgets for two-hour meetings and that overtime can increase personnel cost. The board agreed to revisit meeting frequency and start time at a future session.

The meeting adjourned after the board completed administrative business and minutes approval.","At its June meeting the Skowhegan Planning Board elected officers for the coming year, heard that one member is absent and that two alternates are under consideration by the Selectmen, and discussed staffing and meeting logistics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning Board continues debate on utility‑scale solar ordinance, setbacks and impact fees; seeks developer feedback

Skowhegan Planning Board approves Oak Pond Estate 7‑lot subdivision with condition from neighboring town

Skowhegan Planning Board elects officers; discusses alternates and staffing