Save the Salt Pond Blueberry Barrens!

A developer from Kennebunk is proposing to turn the blueberry barrens along Route 172 (Salt Pond Rd) that overlook the Salt Pond as you drive south out of Blue Hill into a 9-house subdivision.

The construction would destroy a unique landscape, potentially limit access to Carleton Stream for commercial elver fishermen and women who have fished it for generations, and potentially endanger local wildlife and aquaculture in and around the Salt Pond.

We want to work with local organizations to see the land preserved and maintained for future generations to enjoy.

A big win!

Planning Board Rejects Salt Pond Subdivision

On Wednesday, April 9 after carefully reviewing each of the 20 criteria of the Maine subdivision law, the Blue Hill Planning Board voted to reject the developer's application. (Yay!) The Board voted unanimously against the development on items #8 and #9. All other points passed. An application must satisfy all 20 criteria in order to be approved:

8. Aesthetic, cultural and natural values. The proposed subdivision will not have an undue adverse effect on the scenic or natural beauty of the area, aesthetics, historic sites, significant wildlife habitat identified by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or the municipality, or rare and irreplaceable natural areas or any public rights for physical or visual access to the shoreline;

9. Conformity with local ordinances and plans. The proposed subdivision conforms with a duly adopted subdivision regulation or ordinance, comprehensive plan, development plan or land use plan, if any. In making this determination, the municipal reviewing authority may interpret these ordinances and plans;

We are grateful to the Planning Board for their fair and deliberate approach to this process.

This is big. This is GREAT news. This is a huge relief. It took each one of you to make this happen. Your letters, attending meetings, speaking up at hearings, talking with neighbors, sharing the updates, sending in donations, pledging support, and insisting that the Community should be who gets to decide what is precious and worth protecting. It was all important. It all mattered. THANK YOU!!!

Amazing! But....we still have a long way to go.

We are not out of the woods yet. The owner still has plenty of options to develop the land. The only way to truly protect the barrens is to purchase it and donate it to the Blue Hill Heritage Trust. On this the community is united. Now that the Board has voted, we will resume our negotiations with the developer and work to close the deal. Then, we will each throw what we can into the hat to save this land. This is an exciting challenge that we will tackle together.

Help us purchase the property.

Saving the Salt Pond barrens isn't easy and we don't have a lot of time, but we do believe with your help we can pull this off. Let's make our mark on the Peninsula together. We stand ready to answer your questions, address your concerns, and hear your ideas. If you would like to make a pledge, send us an email: saltpondfield@gmail.com.

Find us at Blue Hill Community Development

A note about donations: Until we have a signed agreement and timeline with the Developer, all donations will be used to support the purchase process such as legal fees, appraisals, and communication expenses. We ask that major gifts be pledged until we have a final deal. Questions? Contact us at saltpondfield@gmail.com.

What Else You Can Do

• Share the Facebook Group posts, help us grow this newsletter audience by signing up 2 friends who are interested in this cause, and keep talking about this issue with your neighbors.
• Connect us with major donors, family foundations, funding organizations. If you have ideas, or know people we should speak with we want to hear about it!

NEXT STEPS

Amazing! But....we still have a long way to go.

We are not out of the woods yet. Now that the Board has voted, we will resume our negotiations with the developer to purchase and donate the land.

Help us purchase the property.

If you would like to make a pledge, send us an email: saltpondfield@gmail.com.