Maine Commission Seeks Public Input on Highland Plantation Zoning Changes

The Maine Land Use Planning Commission is currently inviting public comments on proposed amendments to land use regulations in Highland Plantation, Somerset County. This comment period will remain open until January 14, 2025. The amendments focus on zoning changes that aim to reshape land use within the area, responding to community needs and previous local governance challenges.

In April 2025, residents of Highland Plantation voted to return to the Maine Land Use Planning Commission for oversight regarding zoning and land use. This decision stemmed from issues related to staffing and budget constraints that affected local governance. According to Highland Plantation assessors Daniel Howard, Lois Bousquet, and Raymond Dionne, the Commission reestablished its land use authority in September 2025 after the plantation had previously opted for local control in 2016.

The proposed zoning changes include a significant shift for approximately 12 acres of land near Long Falls Dam Road and Sandy Stream Valley Road, which would transition from residential development to general development. Similarly, around 10 acres along Old County Road are proposed to change from general management to commercial-industrial use.

To facilitate community engagement, workshops were conducted in September and October to gather input from local landowners and residents. These sessions aimed to inform the updated zoning map, with Bousquet indicating that the public comment period is one of the final steps in this regulatory process.

One of the critical aspects of the proposed amendments is the request from the community to exclude Highland Plantation from the primary and secondary locations under the location of development rules. This exclusion would prevent future petitions for rezoning land for most development subdistricts that allow for general commercial development or residential subdivisions.

Residents wishing to provide feedback on the proposed rule changes can visit the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry website at https://tinyurl.com/53nvshm6 for additional details and instructions. For further inquiries, individuals can contact Stacy Benjamin at 207-441-3761 or via email at [email protected].

The outcome of this public comment period will shape the future of land use in Highland Plantation, reflecting the community’s priorities and aspirations for development.