For years, plans for commercial development near the Schoodic Peninsula have threatened the quiet beauty of a prime part of Acadia National Park. The park, as most know, includes 2,300 acres on the southern tip of Schoodic Point, along with its more high-profile presence on Mount Desert Island. At last, things are on track to preserve the rest of the peninsula for environmentally sound management. Here’s the story:
A wealthy Italian father and son, Bruno and Vittorio Modena, in the 1980s had bought 3,200 acres of land in Winter Harbor and Gouldsboro. The tract includes nearly half of Schoodic Peninsula. It abuts the Acadia National Park portion and includes the scenic drive that approaches the park from Winter Harbor as well as Sargent’s Island just off the coast.
The Italians, through their Winter Harbor Holdings LLC, planned in 2006 to develop an “eco-resort,” with an 18-hole golf course, a lodge and as many as 1,000 luxury home sites, together with some nature-study centers an a “green” strip next to the park to appease environmentalists. Park Superintendent Sheridan Steele described the plan as “the biggest single threat to Acadia.”
In the face of opposition by conservationists and park officials, the scheme languished for years but remained a continuing threat. The Friends of Acadia group tried repeatedly to talk with the Modenas about purchasing the tract but got no response.
A break came last year when Vittorio Modena finally agreed to negotiate a purchase, not with the environmentalists but with a businessman, Peter Stein, managing director of Lyme Timber Company in Hanover, N.H. Mr. Stein had a sterling record for environmentally sound timberland management in cooperation with conservation groups. In this case, he worked with Friends of Acadia and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
Lyme Timber announced last week the purchase of the 3,200-acre tract. The company said that it would work with the conservation groups to create a plan for the southern portion of the property that “takes into account its conservation values and considers appropriate resource development.” Mr. Stein has assured that “there isn’t going to be extensive harvesting on the property any time soon.”
Details of the management of the property will be worked out with Lyme Timber under an option agreement with Friends of Acadia and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust that provides for negotiation of a conservation easement. The two groups have already begun raising funds for purchase of the easement.
No one will tell how much Lyme Timber paid for the tract, but it certainly will be a substantial amount, as will the likely cost of the easement. Mr. Steele says only that the property is “priceless.” He adds that 50 years from now people will look back and say, “What a deal!”
Lyme Timber will make money by selective harvesting as specified in agreement with the conservation groups and in selling the easement. The Modenas got a handsome payment. And the public can know that the park at the point will remain untouched by the sight and noise of nearby commercial development.
It’s a good deal for both.
Thats the trouble with National Parks they want to control everything inside and outside park lines.
FYI–Friends of Acadia and MCHT have nothing to do with National Parks other than being composed of a few dedicated staff people and supported by thousands of people who value the benefits and value of it and will go to great lengths to protect that value.
Maybe the Friends can start spending the millions of dollars they have been sitting on for years. Google Guidestar and check out their financials.
Right, Bar Harbor and the surrounding communities are really hurting. Get off your couch and check this gem out, Long Live Schoodic.
“The Italians” – really?
Also, I’d think BDN staff would be aware that every real estate transaction requires a transfer tax form be filed at the registry of deeds. This form requires that the sale price be disclosed.
Hey BDN, since your so in the tank for the wind industry, why not propose wind turbines for Cadillac Mountain? Surely it has to be one of the best wind speed spots in Maine.
Relevance?
BDNs hypocrisy of promoting an anti-development slant in this article, while they routinely promote industrial wind farm companies on our mountains. Follow their coverage of local residents standing up against industrial wind farms. It will be obvious.
OMG a money making venture in a small poor town in Maine that would employ allot of people and pay a good amount in property taxes AND bring lots of people to the town and surrounding area spending money at local shops!! MY god how could someone even think of such a horrible thing.
The park is the park! what it outside the park is not part of it. I would add for those who do not know there was a navy base ( NSGA Navel security group activity ) there INSIDE the park for many years ( the reason many of us are here in the area) that could have been a massive revenue source as it was already built with both housing and all the necessary facilities. Instead it was handed over to the state and they instead of using what was there they razed some of the buildings and built new ones. Now a facility that housed fed and cared for almost 2 thousand people houses 10 or so! Instead of the millions that could have been earned by making it a resort. When will the state stop it unrelenting anti busniess practices?
Well, considering they get about 2 million visitors to Acadia each year, I think that Bar Harbor and the surrounding towns would be right in protecting their investments in the natural resource based economy. Personally, I think there are enough overly priced resorts that I wouldn’t care to visit even if I could afford them, and that’s not our state image anyways–we’re about pristine and rugged coastlines lined with spruces, not gated chlorinated pools, you know? It is lucky that the park has an opportunity to be buffered from development by a working forest. Lyme, as the article says, has a great track record for working with land trusts and other conservation groups.
Of course, it is excellent proof that conservation can be achieved by voluntary conservation easement and under private ownership, as the tradition has long been in Maine.
Protecting what is there is very different from what national parks in general and Acadia in particular seem to want to do.
“TAKE IT ALL” is and has been their motto.
If they aren’t stopped, they will gobble up averything on the coast.
Another landowner is beaten into submission for “the good of all”.
http://www.landrights.org/VideoGoodOfAll.htm