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Mount Desert planning board approves 30-foot buffer reduction, relocates right-of-way for Snowflake subdivision
Summary
On Dec. 10, 2025 the Mount Desert Planning Board approved an amendment to conditional use permit 99-033 to shrink a vegetated buffer by 30 feet and to relocate a right-of-way serving lot 4 of the Snowflake subdivision at 49 Hall Quarry Road; the board found the change did not create new lots and waived an additional public hearing.
Vice Chair Tracy Keller presided over the Mount Desert Planning Board on Dec. 10, 2025, when the board approved an amendment to a 1999 conditional use permit that will reduce a vegetated buffer by 30 feet and relocate a right-of-way to provide access to lot 4 of the Snowflake subdivision at 49 Hall Quarry Road.
Thomas Benson, agent for owner Michael Museetti, told the board the requested change would move the existing right-of-way to follow the east line of lot six so the route no longer crosses Museetti's business lot. "We'd like to modify this easement uh buffer area by 30 ft," Benson said, adding that the abutter known as Glass has agreed to the change.
The board recorded a site inspection conducted at 3:00 p.m. and noted public notice was published in the Mount Desert Islander on Nov. 27, 2025 and that abutters were mailed notice on Nov. 21, 2025; eight abutters were notified. A board member moved that the application be found complete under the short-form process, the motion carried by voice vote, and the board proceeded to review the application under the town's zoning standards.
Board members worked through the applicable sections of the zoning ordinance, citing section 5.6 for conditional-use amendments and the performance standards in section 6A. The board concluded that the relevant provisions addressing compatibility, highway safety, impact on town services and soils were met for the proposed modification; many other subitems in 6A and the specific standards in 6B and shoreland standards in 6C were marked not applicable.
After those findings, the board approved the conditional-use amendment (application 016-2025) by voice vote. The board then reviewed subdivision revision rules under section 15.13 and considered whether relocating the right-of-way would create new lots or extend subdivision boundaries. A motion that the proposal does not create additional lots or dwelling units and therefore does not require a public hearing passed by voice vote. The vice chair signed the revised plan for recording.
Planning staff and board members noted the roadway relocation itself will be processed separately as a road/right-of-way matter and that approval here addresses only the conditional-use amendment and the corresponding plan revision.
The meeting concluded with routine housekeeping and adjournment; the board set no additional conditions for this approval.
