Planning Board approves Midcoast Conservancy wetlands restoration at 0 Musquash Rd.

The Town of Jefferson Planning Board voted 3-0 on April 7 to approve a permit for a Midcoast Conservancy restoration project at 0 Musquash Road. Chair Bill Farren called the motion; Dana Clark seconded and the board (Farren, Clark and Gary Olsen) approved the permit as submitted.

Tim Libby, Forest & Lands Manager for Midcoast Conservancy, described the project as "closure of an unregistered gravel pit, slope regrading, defunct asphalt road and culvert removal and restoration of wetlands." He told the board the restoration plan was developed by SWCA Environmental Consultants and is funded by a grant from the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program. Libby said the work will begin in June and that plantings will be carried out in 2027.

Board members confirmed multiple permits will be secured before work begins, including a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit WP-27, Maine NRPA permitting, Section 401 water-quality certification, a NPDES Notice of Intent, Maine stormwater approvals under 38 M.R.S. § 420-D, and a Town of Jefferson building permit related to the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. The board discussed scope and timing and raised no objections before the vote.

The approval authorizes Midcoast Conservancy to proceed under the conditions described to the board; the motion recorded only the permit approval and did not attach additional conditions or amendments beyond those in the submitted plan. The board did not record public comment on this item.