Opinions
Maine's mountaintops abandoned by LURC
This task force abandoned the very idea of stewardship and capitulated to temporary commands of a very temporary administration. LURC has become foot soldiers for developers and surrendered the near-sacred trust placed in them by former legislators, and the people of Maine, who have a field of vision broader than what is either convenient or politically correct.
It is lonely at the top of the mountain, standing against the tide of state policy, public opinion, public interest groups and deep pockets willing to exploit mountains as sacrificial areas in trades and arrangements to benefit their interests.
LURC has made a bad decision. Generations from now will look back and shake their heads at these piles of metal and wonder why.
July 19, 2008
by Nancy O'Toole
in Sun Journal
The regulator, created to protect nature, is allowing fragile habitats to be destroyed
The Maine Legislature created the Land Use Regulation Commission in 1971 to serve the people of Maine and act as the regulatory authority over 10.4 million acres of unorganized land - one of the largest contiguous undeveloped areas in the Northeast. Among LURC's responsibilities are promotion of orderly development, and protection of natural and ecological values.
In 1974, to ensure the protection of fragile and irreplaceable soil and habitat, Maine's mountainous areas above 2,700 feet were protected by LURC from ecologically damaging development. The agency was not "blowing in... [continue via Web link]
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