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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 149, No. 37
28 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
September 13, 2018
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 3D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Golf course subdivision ok’d
A SITE WALK with developer Paul Hollis (in blue windbreaker) took place at the future location of the Brandy Crossing Subdivision on Tuesday evening. The Naples Planning Board gave preliminary approval for the subdivision. (De Busk Photo)
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Ashley Hanlon said her grandmother purchased a home that was originally deeded with a golf course that was only seasonal. The blueprints for the Brandy Crossing Subdivision call for a pathway that goes right past the Hanlon home to a dock that will moor up to six boats. She expressed concerns that large groups of people will have reason to pass close to the once-secluded home on their way to the dock. Hanlon questioned how the statute could allow multiple slips on one dock when there was not enough beach frontage. She asked the developer to consider putting all the slips on one dock that is further away from their property, thus eliminating the second pathway. Hanlon claimed that the residential properties next to the former golf course could lose up to 50 percent of their value when the former golf course disappears to make room for 17 new single-family homes. Several other abutters also expressed concerns that their homes will be devalued. The existence of a golf course — sprawling green space that has only seasonal use — is no longer an assur-
ance for these homeowners. Other worries include but are not limited to increased traffic on Fairway Lane with only one entrance and exit, and no longer having vehicular access to the beach for dock maintenance and springtime cleanup. The abutters to the proposed Brandy Crossing Subdivision participated in a site walk and later sat in the audience during the Naples Planning Board meeting. Their expressions were grim as the board did a check list of the site plan review. A few closed their eyes. One slumped in his chair, powerless to alter the outcome. On Tuesday night, the planning board granted a preliminary approval of the Brandy Crossing Subdivision that is being developed by Paul Hollis, who owns Great Lots of Maine. The preliminary approval was granted with a few conditions. Exact plans for the footpath to the docks and other Shoreland Zoning Ordinance issues such as tree removal and the installation of any pavement near the shoreline must be first approved by Naples Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Renee Carter. A second condition is that the storm water runoff plan and the phosphorous budget must
get a nod from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Through communication to Carter, Naples Fire Chief Chris Pond had requested that two hydrants be placed in the subdivision; and if that was not feasible, all homes would require a sprinkler system with a 300-gallon cistern in the basement. With this preliminary approval, Hollis can move forward with securing a bond so that he can break ground. During the site walk, he said the best use for the land is single-family homes. Hollis has done his best to meet with individual abutters, and compromise his plans to meet their concerns. For example, he offered to plant pine trees in the state’s right-ofway to block headlights from illuminating the home of a woman who lives across Route 114. That home is not part of the neighborhood but is directly impacted by Fairway Lane traffic. “We think it’s going to a great subdivision. It will bring in revenue to the town,” Hollis said. The homes are estimated to be priced at $700,000, and will have access to a dock slip. Sixteen houses will be built on 36.4 acres. Another lot will be developed from the 11 SUBDIVISION, Page 8A
Vote on Crooked River pushed to March ’19 By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Scratch one item off the November ballot. With numbers still being generated by the architect and a tight window to schedule public hearings, SAD 61 has decided to wait until March 2019 to propose repurposing Crooked River School. Superintendent Al Smith made the announcement Monday night at the school board’s regular meeting. Smith pointed out that the cost of the proposed renovation has increased due to sharp rises in labor and mate-
rials. Seeing the project shot down by taxpayers back in 2016, when many noted their inability to absorb higher taxes, Smith said attempts are being made to trim the proposal, while trying to avoid impacting the educational process. Smith penned a detailed explanation of the project, which appears in this edition. Since those figures remain in the works, Smith and the Building Committee felt there would not be ample time to present the information and paint a clear picture for the public of the need to
reopen the facility as a Grade 3–5 instruction space prior to the November referendum. So, the feeling was better to delay than face likely failure. In other school news: • Buses miss the mark. As part of the withdrawal agreement between SAD 61 and the Town of Sebago, the district sent three buses to Sebago. When Sebago officials had the buses inspected prior to the start of the new school year, two failed. “There are serious issues with the frames of the buses
and an estimate was that it would take $20,000 to repair them,” according to the Sebago School Department’s July board meeting minutes. Rather than repair the buses, Sebago Superintendent Marc Gendron looked at possible lease agreements. He landed two used buses for $6,000 each. The situation also put Sebago at the top of the state’s bus reimbursement list. By “spiking the engines” of the two failed inspection buses as part of the state program, thus rendering them unusable, SAD 61, Page 3A
Patience urged on grass project By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer As a longtime gardener and landscape designer, Lucia Terry understands the importance of patience. Yes, this summer was a tough one when it came to growing grass — too hot at times — along sections of Depot Street. Yet, Terry is pleased with the progress being made and is highly-optimistic that expected results will be seen in 2019. “We’ll see,” Selectman
Bear Zaidman said. Some people don’t share that view, and let Bridgton Board of Selectmen Chairman Lee Eastman know what they think. “There’s a lot of concern,” said Eastman Tuesday night, noting some taxpayers expected better results by now based on the money spent on the two-year project. “To me, it looks the same. Ask the 17 people that talked to me (about it) and the different adjectives they used to describe it. I’m not at liberty
to say.” Eastman agreed it was a tough growing season, but he noted that grass was successfully grown at ballfields and golf courses. Eastman initially wondered whether the town should continue with the project, despite entering a contract. Some officials thought a “hardscape” surface was the way to go, but were convinced to give the natural grass option a final chance. Resident Sue Hatch called for patience. “You need to
give it a chance to grab hold,” she said. “It’s a process.” Terry pointed out that the space required far more work than expected, including the removal of some very large rocks. With some reseeding both this fall and spring, Terry expects the plots to fill in and reach the goal — green space that can hold up under foot traffic generated by the Farmers Market, while also requiring little maintenance. Hatch noted that the town has a grass problem at SELECTMEN, Page 2A
Orchardist gives TLC to trees By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer SWEDEN — Few things are as tempting as ripe fruit picked directly from the tree on which it grew. The promise of being delicious and fresh beckons from the flesh of the fruit. Apples have been a temptation since Eve plucked one from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. At orchards here in Maine, you-pick offerings are very appealing to the public. It’s a chance to combine a shared activity with selecting items typically on a grocery list. “Pick-your-own is a wonderful opportunity to introduce people to new apple varieties,” according to Scott Miller, the orchardist at Pietree Orchard in Sweden. “You-pick is all over the farm. Right now, we are concentrating on the south side. The view is a little bit bet-
ter. People like to see Mount Washington and Shawnee Peak,” he said. This week, the pickyour-own apples include: Macintosh, Cortlands, Ginger Golds. “This is the first time we had Ginger Golds as a pickyour-own,” Miller said, going into the origins of this variety. “It was found growing on stone walls in an orchard down in Virginia. The farmer’s wife’s name was Ginger and it is a gold apple — the rest is history.” At Pietree Orchards, there are about 5,000 trees that yield fruit including varieties of apples, peaches, plums and pears. In an orchard, the tender loving care doesn’t stop when the snow flies. Maintenance is required year-round. In fact, when the tree goes dor- APPLE CAUGHT HER EYE — Edy Netter, of Denmark, mant, the staff gets busy with flashes a smile in the apple orchard at Pietree Orchard on ORCHARD, Page 5A Sunday. (De Busk Photo)
Why this project is truly needed
By Alan Smith SAD 61 Superintendent of Schools For me, and I’m sure for many, it is imperative to be able to answer the question of “Why” prior to moving forward with any educational practice or project. It is equally as important to answer the question of, “How will this affect or benefit our kids?” The educational needs and reasons for an elementary grades 3-5 Crooked River School project have not changed. The original Alan Smith Songo Locks Elementary SAD 61 Superintendent School was built with 28 classrooms to support 335 students. Current educational mandates and Special Education needs have changed so much in 25 years that 14 of the 28 classrooms are now being used to accommodate these additional requirements. Thus, only 14 of the main building classrooms are available to support today’s student population of approximately 430 students. In 2010, a six-classroom modular was added and attached to the main building. In 2016, a two-classroom portable was placed on the Songo Locks Elementary School campus. In the summer of 2017, another fiveroom portable was added to the campus. Thus, in an effort to accommodate student educational needs during the past eight years, we now have 13 modular/portable classrooms. The portables do create some educational and safety concerns, as well as an annual cost of over $100,000 dollars a year. In addition, these portables are not permanent structures. Let’s also not forget that in the very near future, pre-K will be mandated by the State to be a part of our children’s educational opportunities. As hard as our staff works to maintain a wonderful, clean and supportive environment, over time the additional student numbers have played, and will continue to play, a significant role on greater than normal wear and tear of the building. In working with architect Steve Blatt, the Crooked River (CR) Building Subcommittee was informed that the cost of similar construction projects have been much higher than expected. This is due to labor shortages, increased wages, greater cost of materials and a more robust economy. The committee was informed that materials have increased as much as 30%. Due to numerous construction projects, available companies can now be more selective about the projects they wish to bid. The CR Committee wanted to make certain all possible options were reviewed. Thus, they asked Mr. Blatt to revisit the project and provide options to reduce the cost of the project while not compromising the educaPROJECT, Page 3A
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