More Than Minutes: AI, Recruitment, and Transparency Discussed by Bar Harbor Appeals Board

More Than Minutes: AI, Recruitment, and Transparency Discussed by Bar Harbor Appeals Board

Carrie Jones Jan 14, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana BAR HARBOR—Whether the town staff should use artificial intelligence (AI), how to recruit new appeals board members, and if the board could be told when there are lawsuits involving its decisions were major topics of discussion during the Bar Harbor Appeals Board meeting, January 13. The meeting’s agenda listed approval of minutes … Continue reading More Than Minutes: AI, Recruitment, and Transparency Discussed by Bar Harbor Appeals Board

Legal Brief Alleges Unconstitutional Fees, Flawed Hearing in Bar Harbor Appeals Board Decision Case is focused on town's ability to permit cruise ship disembarkations at Ells Pier

Legal Brief Alleges Unconstitutional Fees, Flawed Hearing in Bar Harbor Appeals Board Decision

Case is focused on town’s ability to permit cruise ship disembarkations at Ells Pier Carrie Jones Dec 27, 2025 BAR HARBOR—In a December 16 brief, Charles Sidman’s attorney Robert Papazian (Gebhardt & Kiefer), asked the Maine Business and Consumer Court to vacate the Bar Harbor Appeals Board’s June decision that said Sidman had lack of standing in a case whether the town can disembark passengers at 23 … Continue reading Legal Brief Alleges Unconstitutional Fees, Flawed Hearing in Bar Harbor Appeals Board Decision

CORRECTION! Southwest Harbor Select Board Removes One Board Member, Accepts Another's Resignation. Select Board also approves funding to remove hazardous elm near school walkway and nominates Smith to Municipal Waste Hub board.

CORRECTION! Southwest Harbor Select Board Removes One Board Member, Accepts Another’s Resignation.

Select Board also approves funding to remove hazardous elm near school walkway and nominates Smith to Municipal Waste Hub board. Carrie Jones Nov 28, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. We have a correction at the bottom of this story, but we felt it was very important to resend it out immediately. Apologies for the error and for filling … Continue reading CORRECTION! Southwest Harbor Select Board Removes One Board Member, Accepts Another’s Resignation.

Board Grants Timeliness Exception to Selmis in Dispute Over Clark Point Road Guest House Permit

Southwest Harbor Board Grants Selmi Appeal, Guest House Project Returns to Planning Board

Court Fight Looms Carrie Jones Sep 18, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The 1932 Criterion Theatre. SOUTHWEST HARBOR—The Southwest Harbor Appeals Board has sent Justin Podjasek’s previously town-approved project at 72 Clark Point Road to build a $750,000 guest house on his lot where a greenhouse once stood to the town’s planning board. The build on the property has been challenged by … Continue reading Southwest Harbor Board Grants Selmi Appeal, Guest House Project Returns to Planning Board

Bar Harbor Vacation Rental Definition Questioned Appeals Board Upholds Code Enforcement Officer's Permit for Bogue Chitto Property

Bar Harbor Vacation Rental Definition Questioned

Appeals Board Upholds Code Enforcement Officer’s Permit for Bogue Chitto Property Carrie Jones Sep 10, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. BAR HARBOR—Can the owner of a vacation rental close off a portion of the home when renting it in the short-term when that rental is not the owner’s primary residence? That was the question attorney Colin W.B. Chard put … Continue reading Bar Harbor Vacation Rental Definition Questioned

Bar Harbor Town Offices Closed After Network Breach

Bar Harbor Town Council Asked to Rethink July Decision to Not Reappoint Vice Chair of Appeals Board

Carrie Jones Aug 20, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The 1932 Criterion Theatre. BAR HARBOR—One current member and one former member of the town’s appeals board asked the town council to reconsider its July split vote to not put former appeals board vice chair Cara Ryan back on the town’s appeals board. “I’m really here to talk about process. As volunteers to … Continue reading Bar Harbor Town Council Asked to Rethink July Decision to Not Reappoint Vice Chair of Appeals Board

Board Grants Timeliness Exception to Selmis in Dispute Over Clark Point Road Guest House Permit

Board Grants Timeliness Exception to Selmis in Dispute Over Clark Point Road Guest House Permit

Carrie Jones Aug 02, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Links Pub. SOUTHWEST HARBOR — On July 20, the Appeals Board ruled there was good cause to hear the Selmis’ appeal of a December 2024 permit for a two-story, three-bedroom guest cottage at 72 Clark Point Road. A previous appeal by other neighbors was not heard and had been considered untimely because … Continue reading Board Grants Timeliness Exception to Selmis in Dispute Over Clark Point Road Guest House Permit

Southwest Harbor Appeals Board Could Potentially Reconsider Failed Appeal of Guest House

Southwest Harbor Appeals Board Reconsiders its Decision to Hear Appeal of 72 Clark Point Road

Setbacks, Privacy, and Property Lines: Two Appeals Tangle Clark Point Road Carrie Jones Jun 27, 2025 Share SOUTHWEST HARBOR—There were not one, but two, different appeals on the town’s appeals board agenda, Wednesday night. Both dealt with properties on the Clark Point Road, property lines, and structures that were on previous foundations. And there was no final ruling on either, but they both moved in … Continue reading Southwest Harbor Appeals Board Reconsiders its Decision to Hear Appeal of 72 Clark Point Road

Southwest Harbor Appeals Board Could Potentially Reconsider Failed Appeal of Guest House

Southwest Harbor Appeals Board Could Potentially Reconsider Failed Appeal of Guest House

Carrie Jones Jun 18, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Wealth Management. SOUTHWEST HARBOR—A failed appeal of a guest house being built on Southwest Harbor’s Clark Point Road could potentially be reconsidered by the town’s appeals board next week. After a meeting last week where it denied the appeal of a guest house, the Southwest Harbor Appeals Board, June 17, … Continue reading Southwest Harbor Appeals Board Could Potentially Reconsider Failed Appeal of Guest House

Appeals Board Approves KOA Requested Modifications

Appeals Board Approves KOA Requested Modifications

Carrie Jones May 18, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Appeals Board unanimously approved Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA’s request to change the use of a nonconformity on its property at 136 County Road in Bar Harbor. The campground is owned by Kampgrounds of America Inc and is located on the west side of Mount Desert Island, near the head of the island. Jim Kiser appeared before the … Continue reading Appeals Board Approves KOA Requested Modifications