Coast Guard housing plan stirs concerns

A proposed U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) housing development in Perry is causing concerns. The 75-acre property on Shore Road, formerly the First Light Farm Equine Shelter, was purchased by USCG to offer housing to its Station Eastport personnel who have families.
Former Perry Select Board Chair Karen Raye is concerned about the development for a number of reasons, not least of which is the lack of communication between the USCG and the town and abutting property owners. She stresses, as did all the property owners interviewed for this article, that her concerns are not about the USCG personnel and their families, whose presence is respected and well‑liked.
"The biggest complaint is the lack of communication. There is no line of communication," says Rhoda Dougherty, a property owner and a member of the Loring family, which has lived on and owned Shore Road land since the mid‑1700s. "It's not about the people."
Santora McKinney, RA, with USCG had contacted the town planning board, mentioning the purchase and the plan to build a development. He emailed then planning board Chair Gerald Morrison, stating, "We have recently acquired some land in Perry, ME. We are planning to build a small 4‑6 unit housing development. We'd like to reach out to you and the planning board to get some feedback, initial thoughts or concerns you may have regarding this project."
The selectmen had asked for someone to come discuss the project with them. An out‑of‑state realtor contracted by USCG to handle the purchase did come to a planning board meeting. It was not a terribly helpful conversation, Raye notes, and set a tone that did not suggest cooperation when the representative pointed out that the USCG, being a federal agency, does not have to abide by local and state ordinances and building codes, only by federal laws. He was "rude," she adds.
Later, McKinney forwarded plans to the planning board for a small housing development in Jonesport that he explained would be similar to the Perry project. Morrison says that McKinney was very cooperative. The planning board had no comments or suggestions to give to McKinney on the project. The planning board had no jurisdiction over it, Morrison says. Raye echoes Morrison's comment, stating, "The selectmen don't have a position because they don't have a role, because the USCG doesn't have to adhere to local codes and ordinances."

Abutters unaware of project
Raye notes that property abutters had not been notified, so she called them to let them know. She adds that at the most recently held selectman's meeting, "Some abutters were there, and they would like a better understanding of what will be built." At the time of the meeting, very few, if anyone, knew that the draft environmental review was available. Raye found out about the availability of the report and the public comment period in early September when the ad in the August 23 issue of The Quoddy Tides was shown to her.
Averill Dougherty, a member of the Loring family and an abutting property owner, says, "No one saw the scoping ad [a June 13 USCG ad placed in The Calais Advertiser]. I saw the RFPs in The Quoddy Tides and said, "What?"
Raye says, "I hope that they [USCG] will meet with the abutting property owners and anyone interested, if anything to ease people's minds. When there's a lack of information, that raises concerns." Averill Dougherty, says, "I'd like to be informed in every stage of the process." The lack of perceived communication may come down to a difference in process: town meetings where business is conducted with plenty of opportunity for public comment before, during and after, versus the federal government, with labyrinthine layers that includes information gathering through reports.
Brian Duffy, an abutting homeowner, says, "My concern is that they not trample over local ordinances, but that they act in good faith and have consideration of our concerns."
In an interview, USCG Commander Peter Bosma explains that the draft environmental assessment is where the public comments start to come in. "No meetings with abutting owners have been established or requested at this time. As it relates, the Coast Guard is conducting an environmental assessment which includes an opportunity for community members to provide concerns. This is the typical process by which community concerns are raised and addressed."
Bosma says, "The Coast Guard has been coordinating with the Town of Perry and the planning board. The Coast Guard has provided conceptual plans of the proposed development for review." He explains that the USCG does not have to follow local and state building codes and ordinances. "That said, we must comply with federal building codes and always try to do our best to meet as many local codes/ordinances as possible. The Coast Guard strives to maintain positive local relationships in the many communities that we serve and we have a strong track record of doing so." Duffy says, "All those town ordinances are important."

Housing development: single family or duplexes
The 75-acre former horse shelter has three wetlands. About 15 acres fronting Shore Road that are of old pasture, and the existing house, barn and outbuildings are the proposed site of the development. All existing structures would be demolished. The plan outlines the wetlands, setbacks and other restrictions on building the development.
The draft environmental assessment outlines two different scenarios. Both would include a 2,000-square-foot community center and a 5,000-square-foot maintenance building. The first plan would have four duplexes to house eight families, the second would have seven single family homes. Plans call for three- and four-bedroom units.
Both plans call for a circular 24-foot wide drive that enters the development south of the current driveway. Housing would be nestled around the drive. With the first plan, the maintenance building would be located close to the entrance of the existing drive with the community building behind it to the left. Five groundwater wells would be drilled and five septic and leach field systems would be built for the houses. The maintenance and community buildings would require separate septic and leach field systems.
With the second plan the first single‑family home would be located close to the driveway entry with the other houses continuing in a circle around the drive. The maintenance and community buildings would be located within the drive's circle. Eight drilled wells would be needed and individual septic and leach fields, in addition to those needed by the two outbuildings.
Bosma explains, "The maintenance building will be used to store equipment and materials necessary to maintain the housing only. This will not be a site for repair of operational USCG boats, vehicles, vessels, etc."
The community building raised questions for many of the extended Loring family members who had gathered on September 7 to discuss their concerns. Cynthia Dittmar asked, "Has anyone asked the Coast Guard families what they want? Do they want to be out here without easy access to shopping, parks and other nearby community offerings?" Upon discussing the proposed development with her insurer, she was told that she would need to post no trespassing signs, which includes beach access. "That's the last thing I want to do," she stated sharply.
Raye hopes that the USCG settles on the individual housing plan. If the USCG were to ever decide that the property no longer met its needs, the duplexes would be hard to sell, she notes. A better chance would be with the single family homes. Most Downeast community members remember the U.S. Navy's decision in 2000 to close the Cutler Naval base and the subsequent troubles associated with selling the base's housing units. Bosma says, "The Coast Guard does not anticipate a need to divest of the property in the future and is not planning for future subdivision."
Averill Dougherty says, "Down the road, you never know what Station Eastport will do. It could move, it could downsize. What happens to the housing?"

Aquifer load and arsenic levels
In terms of water use and impact of the drilled wells and septic systems, the draft environmental assessment report states, "In general, it would likely have minor, long‑term, adverse effects on groundwater supplies, septic system loads and existing storm water infrastructure."
In the fall of 2013 the Passamaquoddy Tribe hired Wright‑Pierce Engineering to conduct a 10‑day well testing project of a bedrock aquifer because of the challenges with the Passamaquoddy Water District's water quality with Boyden's Lake. The pumping period utilized three test pumping wells, monitored seven private wells and four bedrock wells as well as an additional six wells. The test wells were 300 feet deep. A number of Perry residents' private wells were affected by the pumping tests.
When asked if the USCG was aware of the effect of the testing on local wells, USCG Commander Bosma replied, "The Coast Guard is conducting an environmental assessment which is still in progress. These impacts would be identified during this process and further studied or addressed as required."
Arsenic also may be an issue in well water, says Duffy. He ended up having a deep drilled well put in last year because his existing well would run dry, but also because it tested for high levels of arsenic. While his water is "clean" of arsenic now, he is concerned that, if there is significant drawdown with the new development, less water in the aquifer may mean higher levels of arsenic.

Lighting glare and other concerns
Other concerns include the amount of lighting and how much of it will interfere with the quality of the night sky and the life of those who choose to live outside of the center of a town or city. "I like looking at the night sky. So do my children. I don't want lights on at all hours," Duffy says. Focus lights where their needed and contain the light's spread, he says. Bosma responds, "LED pole-mounted fixtures are planned for the Coast Guard drive. The design will minimize light pollution." He says that there will be no fencing or security at the development, and the Coast Guard will maintain the driveway.
Additional concerns include the additional loads put on local emergency services such as the fire department, law enforcement and school system. Bosma says that socioeconomic issues such as these will be looked at by the draft environmental assessment.
In summary, Bosma says, "Congress appropriated funds to the Coast Guard in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget to address a shortage of adequate housing for active duty members assigned to Station Eastport. The complement of personnel and vessels assigned to STA Eastport is not growing and/or changing. Facilities Design & Construction Center (FDCC) has been engaged and will continue to engage Town of Perry officials and the local community to ensure that the housing constructed is in compliance with all local ordinances and with as minimal adverse environmental impact as possible."

Public comment information
After the public comment period ends, next steps will be determined. Bosma says, "This can vary based on the results of the environmental assessment, and the need for future meetings is determined based on the nature of the comments received."
A draft environmental assessment report, a process requirement, with public comments accepted until Monday, September 23, is available online at the Town of Perry website under the ordinance section and is available as a hard copy at the libraries in Eastport and Pembroke and at the Perry Town Office.
Comments will only be accepted in writing. Comments may be sent to: Christy Benes, Wood E&IS, 285 Davidson Ave., Suite 405, Somerset, NJ 08873.