The “Floating Camps” loophole

floating camp
The state says the floating camps are blocking the views from houses and camps onshore, posing pollution risks, and creating congestion at public docks and boat ramps. Some are even being used as seasonal rental properties.

Because they are not solidly onshore, these camps are beyond the reach of private property boundaries and shore regulations that protect the water and fishery from pollution. And because Maine doesn’t have a clear definition of what is a boat and what isn’t, there’s no consensus of what regulations apply to the structures.

Source: Bangor Daily News 

By downeastlaw, ago

Contamination plague Maine towns

Soil Preparation Inc., the private Plymouth-based company that owns the plant, was bringing in out-of-state sludge and local waste to process into farmland fertilizer. It had placed standpipes with sprinkler heads throughout the woods between its and Seavey’s properties to disperse the wastewater it had squeezed out of the sludge, a mixture of human, food and other waste that was about 80 percent liquid.

Source: Bangor Daily News

By downeastlaw, ago

Wiscasset seeks millions in taxes from Maine Yankee nuclear plant

Maine Yankee, which in 1997 shut down its nuclear plant on Bailey Point and transferred 542 metric tons of radioactive waste into canisters there, paid annual property taxes to the town under an agreement that expired last year. The two sides have been unable to reach a new tax agreement and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection last year granted Maine Yankee a tax exemption based on a state law that gives breaks to industrial facilities for reducing air pollution.

Source: Press Herald

By downeastlaw, ago

Falmouth issues new short-term rental rules 

A new requirement that all Falmouth short-term renters register their properties, with hefty fines for those who don’t comply, is drawing mixed reactions from owners and residents. The ordinance, approved by the Town Council July 26, stems from residents’ concerns about noise and congestion coming from vacation rentals like those advertised on sites such as Airbnb, according to Town Councilor Hope Cahan.

Source: Portland Press Herald

By downeastlaw, ago

New Maine law supports tiny houses

On Wednesday, Gov. Janet Mills signed a new law that gives tiny houses the same status as any other single-family dwelling in the state. This puts tiny homes on equal footing with traditional residences and subject to the same zoning and code requirements. Under this new law, tiny homes can have no larger than 400-square-feet of living space and ones on wheels count as dwellings as well.

Source: BDN

By downeastlaw, ago

Portland approves Munjoy Hill Historic District

Portland city councilors narrowly approved the creation of a new historic district on Munjoy Hill and unanimously agreed to study the impacts of the city’s other historic districts, some of which have existed since the early ’90s. The 5-4 vote in support of the new historic district came more than two months after the council rejected the same proposal, and City Councilor Andrew Zarro, who initially opposed the plan, asked to reconsider the proposal.

Source: Portland Press Herald

By downeastlaw, ago

Judge’s ruling threatens CMP transmission corridor project

A Superior Court judge ruling’s Wednesday may have created another hurdle for the builders of a 145-mile energy transmission corridor through northwestern Maine.

Justice Michaela Murphy ruled that the Maine Bureau of Public Lands did not have the authority to lease public reserve lands to CMP affiliate NECEC Transmission LLC, which is building the corridor, without first determining whether the lease would substantially alter the land in question. If a review finds the state-owned land would be significantly altered because of the lease, the question would go to the Legislature, Murphy ruled.

Source:  Portland Press Herald

By downeastlaw, ago