On the agenda: Blue Hill PB Approved Minutes 09-09-26 — data center (Sep 9)

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Blue HILL Planning Board
September gth Meeting Minutes
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Location
18 Union Street, Blue Hill, Maine

AttQx,daian
Present: Matthew Martin (chair), Scott Blanchard, Marcia McKeague, Diana Page,

Gavin Riggall, CEO Zavier Alvarez
Absent: Wilson King, Suzanne Zeliffe, Alternate Larry Lefkowitz
Public: Anne Piazza, Shelley Kohl, Dana Nicholson, Rich Boulet (remote)

The meeting began at 5:30 and a quorum was recognized
present in person.

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five (5) board members were

Business:
1. ApprovaL of Minutes
Approval of the August12 minutes was tabled until the end of the meeting.
The August12 minutes were amended to change references to “East Blue Hill Library” to
“Blue Hill Public Library”. Matthew motioned to approve the minutes, Diana seconded, and
the motion passed unanimously, Gavin abstaining.
The previously approved July 8 minutes were amended to change references to “East Blue
Hill Library” to “Blue Hill Public Library”. Matthew motioned to approve the amended
minutes, Diana seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

New Business:
1.

Blue Hill Public Library Subdivision

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Review for Sufficiency

The Board adjudicated the application according to the Subdivision Ordinance’s review
criteria.
The Board unanimously voted that the application satisfied the following criteria: #1,
pollution; #2, sufficient water; #4, erosion; #6, sewage disposal; #7, municipal solid waste

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disposal; #8, aesthetic, cultural, and naturalvalues; #10, financial and technical capacity;
412, ground water; #14, freshwaterwetlands; #1 4a, farmland; #15, river, stream, or brook;
#16, storm water.
The Board dedicated particular focus to discussion of criteria #5, Traffic, noting that the
majority of public comment was made regarding the volume of traffic by the Parker Point
Road intersection. The Board received a letter of support from Wes Barton, who had
previously expressed concerns about traffic. The Board expected that cases of illegal
parkingwould be unchanged or reduced through the creation of a new public lot. The Board
discussed concerns about traffic going to the main hospital entrance. The Board discussed
the new use of the house and clarified that a new commercial or rental use would require
Site Plan Review approval through the CEO or Planning Board, After deliberation, the Board

unanimously voted that the application satisfied criteria #5, Traffic.
The Board unanimously voted that the application satisfied criteria #9, Conformity with
Local Ordinances and Plans, conditional upon receiving a revised plat showingthat existing
buildings will meet the 10-foot setback requirement after the sale of the house lot.
The Board unanimously voted that the following criteria were not applicable: #3, municipal
water supply; #11, surface waters; #13, flood areas; #17, spaghetti lots; #18, lake
phosphorus concentration; #19, impact on adjoining municipalities; #20, liquidation
harvesting.
Matthew motioned to find that the application as a whole satisfies all requirements of the
Subdivision Ordinance, conditional on receipt of the revsed plat; Marcia seconded, and the
motion passed unanimously. The subdivision is approved, and the Board will sign the
revised plat once it has been delivered to the town office.

2.

Nicholson-Raynes Subdivision Informal Discussion
Applicant Dana Nicholson submitted the subdivision application packet with a preliminary
plan. She asked the Board to clarify whether wetland mapping and a soil survey would be
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required, and if so, where best to obtain that information. The Board suggested a few online
mapping resources and mentioned that some professionals may be available to perform all
of the required mapping and tests at the same time, rather than using a separate individual
for each test.

3.

General Administrative

The Town has been awarded a $1 0,000 grant for Legal counsel on revisingTown ordinances.
Matthew will speak with town attorney Agnieszka Dixon and then discuss the status of the
ordinances with the Board.
The Board discussed the possibility of a demolition delay ordinance, which would be
intended to protect historic buildings. The Board considered the practicality of including a
demolition delay requirement with the Notice of Intent to Alter form. The Board cLarified
that demolition delay is not intended to restrict property owners use of land, but instead to
give historic preservation groups and individuals an opportunity to propose alternative
options to the property owner that wouLd preserve the site.
The Board discussed a number of generaL administrative matters, including questions from
the current CEO.
The Board discussed writing a letter to the Select Board to formally endorse a 12-month
moratorium on the construction of data centers.

4. Adjourn
The business of the Board having concluded, Matthew motioned to adjourn, Marcia
seconded, and the motion passed unanimousLy.

Meeting adjourned at 7:30 P.M.
Next Meeting: October 14,2026 (ApprovaL of these minutes)
FolLowing Meeting: November 11,2026
Signed:6

Date:

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