Proposed Wind Farm in Redington Twp., Franklin County

Last Updated: January 8, 2008

The Maine Land Use Planning Commission received a rezoning petition from Maine Mountain Power, LLC, to rezone approximately 1,000 acres to a Planned Development subdistrict for a 30 turbine wind farm. The Commission anticipates that the proposal will generate a significant amount of interest. For this reason, this web page was created to share information about the project as well as the Commission's review process.

The Commission's Review Criteria

The purpose of a Planned Development subdistrict is to allow for a large scale, well-planned development that is dependent on a particular natural feature or location which is available at the proposed site. The following links provide further information regarding, among other things, the purpose of a Planned Development subdistrict and the relevant review standards and procedures for evaluating this proposal.

Document Title and Description

Links
Comprehensive Land Use Plan- In particular, reference Chapter 3 - Energy Resources, Chapter 3 - Geologic and Mountain Resources, and Chapter 5 - Goals and Policies. Comprehensive Land Use Plan (html).
Title 12 Land Use Law - The Commission's enabling statute, including review criteria for amendments to or adoption of district boundaries, and criteria for approval of a development permit. 12 M.R.S.A
Refer to Section 685-A(8-A).
Refer to Section 685-B(4).
Commission's Land Use Districts and Standards - Description of the Commission's Planned Development subdistrict, its purpose, and the rules and procedures specific to rezoning to this subdistrict and for requesting approval of a Development Plan. Also includes land use standards applicable for requests for development. Ch 10: Land Use Districts and Standards (html)
Refer to Section 10.21,G
Refer to Sub-Chapter III
Commission's Rules of Practice and Rules for the Conduct of Public Hearings - Detailed description of the Commission's rules of practice (Chapter 4), including rules for rezoning petitions and permit applications, when to hold a public hearing, and procedures and time limits for issuing a permit decision; and the Commission's rules for the conduct of public hearing (Chapter 5), including petitioning for intervention, participation by interested persons, and rules for testimony and questions. Ch 4: Rules of Practice (pdf)
Ch 5: Rules for the Conduct of Public Hearings (pdf)

Public Participation

The Commission is providing an opportunity for public scrutiny of this proposal during the course of its review. A formal public review and comment period has been established as part of the Commission's review process (see the permit review period under "Project Updates and Upcoming Events", below). The Commission will host one or more hearings to gather oral and written testimony from the public about the proposal.

If you wish to receive postal or e-mail notices about upcoming events, hearings and important deadlines related to the Commission's review of this proposal, contact Marcia Spencer-Famous (call 207-287-4933 or e-mail marcia.spencer-famous@maine.gov). Please provide your name, postal and e-mail address, and daytime phone number and we will add you to a list of interested parties for this project.

Paper copies of the rezoning petition are available for viewing by the public by appointment at the following locations:

Project Updates and Upcoming Events

Date

Description

Additional Information

3/5/2008

Final Action - Commission Denial

 

Final Action

1/14/2008

Commission Meeting - The Commission held a deliberative session to consider the rezoings and preliminary development plans proposed.

 

Agenda (19.6 kb)

Commission Memo (32.5 kb)

Powerpoint (pdf 515 kb)

Directions to St Paul Center(77.6 kb)

Live Audio Commission Meeting January 14, 2008
* * *
Follow this link to listen in to the Commission's meeting
 

Pre-filed testimony, received Aug 22, 2007 Copies are available by contacting LUPC at 207-287-2631

Post-hearing comments, received Oct 9, 2007Copies are available by contacting LUPC at 207-287-2631

Parties’ proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, received Nov 8, 2007 Copies are available by contacting LUPC at 207-287-2631

  
09/19-9/21/2007 Public hearing - The Commission held a Public Hearing in the matter of Zoning Petition ZP 702, Maine Mountain Power, LLC. The meeting was held at Sugarloaf Grand Summit Conference Center September 19, 20, and 21, 2007

Public Hearing Transcript
8/20/07 Public hearing - The Commission will hold a Public Hearing in the matter of Zoning Petition ZP 702, Maine Mountain Power, LLC. The meeting will be held at Sugarloaf Grand Summit Conference Center (5092 Access Road, Carrabassett Valley, Maine 04947) on September 19, 20, and 21, 2007

Directions to Public Hearing

Public Hearing Notice (pdf 38.9kb)
07/10/07 Revised petition for rezoning -Black Nubble Windfarm Application (html)
06/06/07 At the June 6 meeting, the Commission voted in favor of re-opening the hearing record to allow the petition to be revised as a project on Black Nubble Mountain only.  
06/06/07 Commission Meeting -The Commission will hear Maine Mountain Power’s request to re-open the hearing record on the proposed preliminary development plan and rezoning for a scaled-down project on Black Nubble Mountain only. Staff Recommendation to re-open record (MS Word, 165 KB)
06/06/2007 Commission Meeting -The Commission will consider a denial of Maine Mountain Power’s proposal to rezone 1,004 acres to a D-PD Subdistrict for a windfarm on Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble Mountain at the June 6, 2007 Commission meeting in Bangor. ZP 702 Staff Recommendation Denial (MS Word, 199 KB)
1/24/2007 Commission Meeting -A special Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday January 24, 2007 at the University of Maine Farmington Olsen Student Center North Dining Hall to hear the staff recommendation for zoning petition ZP 702 starting at 9:30am. If you need further assistance please call Melissa at 207-287-2633.

ZP 702 Staff Recommendation (pdf, 645 KB)
10/20/2006 Transcript Received-The public hearing transcript is now available for public inspection at LUPC's Augusta office (18 Elkins Ln, Harlow Building - 4th floor, Augusta, Maine).  If you need further assistance please call LUPC at 207-287-2631. Public Hearing Transcript (pdf, 6.94 MB)
Note: The file may take considerable time to download
8/21/2006 Record closed - The record was closed on August 21, 2006. Comments and rebuttals submitted by the Applicant and Intervenors are available upon request by contacting LUPC at 207-287-2631  
8/21/2006 Deadline for submittal of public comment- . Members of the public may submit written comments until the record is closed on August 21, 2006 at 5pm.  
8/9/2006 Public hearing - The Commission held a Public Hearing in the matter of Zoning Petition ZP 702, Maine Mountain Power, LLC. Audio of the meeting is available by contacting LUPC at 207-287-2631  
08/02-04/2006 Public hearing - The Commission will hold a Public Hearing in the matter of Zoning Petition ZP 702, Maine Mountain Power, LLC. The meeting will be held at Sugarloaf Grand Summit Conference Center (5092 Access Road, Carrabassett Valley, Maine 04947) on August 2, 3, and 4, 2006. Directions to Public Hearing
Public Notice (pdf, 53 kb)
07/26/2006 Pre-filed testimony posted -Intervenors have submitted pre-filed testimony to the Commission. Copies are available by contacting LUPC at 207-287-2631
 
07/14/2006 Deadline for submittal of pre-filed testimony-Applicant and Intervenors should submit pre-filed testimony by the close of business to Marcia Spencer Famous, Land Use Regulation Commission, 22 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333  
07/11/2006 Site visit - The Commission will visit Redington Twp. Itinerary (MS Word, 23KB)
06/08/2006 Pre-hearing conference - A pre-hearing conference for intervenors and the applicant will be held on June 8th. The meeting will be held in Augusta at the Department of Conservation's Bolton Hill Facility. Bolton Hill Location and Directions (html)
Pre-hearing conference memorandum and order (MS Word, 74 kb)
06/07/2006 Granting of Intervenor status - The Commission will review petitions for Intervenor status and grant status at its June 2006 meeting. Commission Meeting 06/07/2006(html)
06/02/2006 Applicant's responses to agency review comments - The Commission's staff has received the applicant's responses to agency review comments. Applicant responses to agency review comments received 06/02/2006 (html)
05/19/2006 Deadline for requesting Intervenor status - Requests for Intervenor status must be received no later than 5:00 pm on May 19, 2006, and should be directed to Marcia Spencer-Famous, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Public Notice(pdf, 33 kb)
Ch 5: Rules for the Conduct of Public Hearings (pdf)
04/16/2006 - 04/28/2006 Review comment period extended - The permit review comment period has been extended to April 28, 2006, for reviewers that requested additional time prior to April 15th.
03/13/2006 Request for public hearing - The staff will request that petition for rezoning be posted for public hearing at its mid-March Commission meeting. Commission Meeting 03/13/2006 (html)
02/15/2006-04/15/2006 Permit review period - The permit review period has been scheduled from February 15 to April 15, 2006. This review period may be extended as needed. For instructions on how to submit comments, follow the link to "public participation"
02/07/2006 Revised petition for rezoning - The draft petition for rezoning was reviewed by LUPC staff to determine completeness for processing. Minor revisions, updates and clarifications were made by the applicant. The revised petition was accepted for processing on February 8, 2006. Maine Mountain Power was notified.
• Public comments welcome.		 Revised Petition for Rezoning received 02/07/2006 (html)
General Information for Reviewers (pdf, 25 kb) Revised February 21, 2006.

Notification to Interested Parties that petition has been accepted for processing 02/13/2006(pdf, 386 kb)

Notification to Interested Parties that draft petition has been submitted 01/09/2006(pdf, 261 kb)
12/19/2005 Draft petition for rezoning to a Planned Development Subdistrict and request for approval of Preliminary Development Plan submitted to LUPC. Site Development permit application also submitted to MDEP (Note: MDEP accepted the application as complete for processing and sent it out for agency review. MDEP received the same materials sent to LUPC, but is only reviewing the portion of the proposed utility line that would be in Carrabassett Valley). Draft Petition for Rezoning (html)
Superceded by revised petition for rezoning, posted 02/13/2006.
12/14/2005 Public Notice of Intent to File - The applicant submitted a draft petition with LUPC on or about December 14, 2005. Notice included submission of the Site Development permit application to MDEP.
09/28/2005 Pre-submission meeting of the applicant and interested parties to present how the petition would be set up, and discuss the review process.
• Joint LUPC and MDEP meeting.
09/14/2005 Pre-submission public information meeting held by the applicant in Carrabassett Valley.
• Required by MDEP's Site Development rules.
• Public notice provided.
09/09/2005 Pre-submission meeting of the applicant and government review agencies.
• Joint LUPC and MDEP meeting.		 Meeting Record 09/28/2005(pdf, 1.3 MB)
08/22/2005 Pre-submission meeting with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide the wildlife agencies with an update on the wildlife studies.
• Joint LUPC and MDEP meeting.
01/17/2002 Pre-application conference with agencies and interested parties to provide the applicant with guidance on conducting its studies and preparing its rezoning petition and application for a Preliminary Development Plan (collectively referred to hereafter as "the petition").
• Joint LUPC and MDEP meeting.		 Meeting Record 01/31/2002(pdf, 1.5 MB)