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BAR HARBOR—The town’s Planning Board took a step in ruling about three different projects, November 4, determining whether or not the projects were complete.
The next step would be a future review of whether or not the proposed projects are in compliance with the town’s rules.
The board also approved the merging of property that allows a short-term rental to become a guest unit at Explore Acadia on Route 3.
BAR HARBOR CAMPGROUND
The campground off Route 3 is hoping to relocate and upgrade 47 of its tent sites to become full-service RV (recreation vehicle) sites instead. The Bar Harbor Campground also hopes to connect 23 sites that are currently not on the campground’s wastewater systems.
“This proposal is to take 47 campsites which are tent sites and reposition them,” the representative for the campground said.
The campground is at the Ireson Hill area.
Board members asked about run-off from the site and were assured that this wasn’t an issue. Some trees will be removed and there will be some more impervious surfaces at the site.
The technical review team of various Bar Harbor department heads have met and not felt as if it needed a more technical review, Bar Harbor Planning Director Michele Gagnon told the board.
There was no public comment or questions.
It was not yet complete, missing some capacity letters, which is standard, and other details. It will go to public hearing on December 2.
MCFARLAND FARMS
Another completeness review was for the McFarland Farm subdivision on Eden Farm Road, which is in Salisbury Cove.
The application is to modify the subdivision. It changes and reduces the size of multiple unsold lots.
Board members asked questions about the vernal pool.
“They have compressed the entire neighborhood into half,” said one neighbor who also stressed that the other lots hadn’t been for sale.
A neighbor on an adjoining road asked what would be happening with the empty lots now.
“We don’t have any concrete plans from the owner,” one of the consultants said.
It was also deemed incomplete for the various needs for capacity letters and notice of no previous violation. The public hearing will also be on December 2.
RUSSELL FARM
The final review for completeness was for the Russell Farm subdivision on Russell Farm Road, which is in the area of McFarland Hill. The subdivision overlaps three different districts, including a shoreland limited residential zone.
According to discussion and the agenda, “The purpose is to divide the 13.49-acre parcel into two lots of2.60 acres and 10.89 acres, with the existing house remaining on the larger lot and the five accessory structures on the smaller lot.”
It was also deemed incomplete for the various needs for capacity letters and notice of no previous violation. The public hearing will also be on December 2.
EXPLORE ACADIA
The O’Connell family that owns Explore Acadia would like to split and merge a lot on Route 3.
According to an October 26 memo by Gagnon, the O’Connell family would like to convert a dwelling unit with a VR-1 (resident occupied short-term rental) to a guest unit, which would bering the total guest units from 13 to 14.
The proposal is to separate the O’Connells’ residence from the rest of the property including the property that contains that VR-1, and merge the properties that aren’t their own residence into the parcel where they operate Explore Acadia.
The Salisbury Cove Corridor District allows Lodging VI. The maximum guest units there is 25 and up to 100 guests.
Explore Acadia had originally been approved in 2023 for nine cabins, an RV site, and office. It was amended a year later when Gagnon allowed “the four existing dwelling units on the property to be used as cabins rather than dwelling units used as short-term rentals.”
The board approved.
FUTURE WORK
Hammond Lumber in Town Hill will likely be on a future agenda for a redesign.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
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