Coast Guard revises Perry housing plan

In response to public comments, the U.S. Coast Guard has revised its housing plan for Perry, reducing the initial number of units to four single-family or two duplex homes, eliminating a community center and cutting the size of a maintenance building. The Coast Guard also has extended the public comment period on its draft environmental assessment report to December 13.
In addition, the Coast Guard has responded to criticism that its process in developing the housing project has not been transparent, with a lack of communication with the town government and residents. To address those concerns and other issues raised by area residents, Coast Guard representatives held a public meeting at the Perry Elementary School on November 13. The meeting was attended by about 30 people.
Capt. John Barresi of the USCG Facilities Design and Construction Center in Norfolk, Va., stated that while the project is limited now to four housing units, the Coast Guard has approved the site for up to eight units. If the Coast Guard wants to build more than eight units in the future, it would go through the entire process again and another environmental assessment.
The final environmental assessment for the project may be ready in January, and construction is expected to begin next summer. The Coast Guard will work with the Perry Planning Board on its plans for the building design and materials, with the town's attorney, Andrew Hamilton of Eaton Peabody, noting that there is a need for a developmental subdivision review that will look also at road, groundwater and septic issues. That advisory review by the planning board will be done after the final environmental assessment is completed. Barresi noted that, while it is not required to do so, the Coast Guard wants to work with local municipalities and comply with local ordinances.
The project will also include a small maintenance workshop that will be no larger than 2,000 square feet, some sidewalks and streetlights, with light pollution being minimized. While about 80% of the 75-acre property on the Shore Road is wetlands, Barresi thought the houses could be placed sufficiently far back so there could still be trees along the road to help retain the area's rural character. He also noted that there are Coast Guard restrictions on how those living in the homes can use the property. For instance, recreational vehicles, campers or pools cannot be on the site.

Residents raise concerns
Coast Guard Station Eastport has 22 active-duty positions, with current personnel having nine school-age children. Barresi explained that the Coast Guard had a housing analysis done in 2014 that indicated a shortage of houses that personnel could afford. After a search for potential housing sites, 28 properties were initially identified as meeting the Coast Guard's criteria. Criteria included meeting certain codes, having three to four bedrooms, being energy efficient and being no farther than one hour from the Eastport station. While sites in Dennysville, Pembroke, Perry, Robbinston and Eastport were considered, Calais was excluded because of the driving time.
Shore Road resident Sue Duffy felt that Calais should have been included in the review, since the city is less than an hour from Eastport. She felt that if the Coast Guard had gone to the municipalities first and explained its needs, the result would have been "a win-win" for both, with a very different list of properties. "This was too separate from the community from the beginning," she said of the process. "This is such an extreme answer to such a simple problem." Noting that the Shore Road property is farmland of statewide importance and that the project affects wetlands and a vernal pool, she added, "It has such a profound effect on us as neighbors."
Barresi agreed that the Coast Guard "should have been smarter from the get-go," with a more transparent process. "We want to be more transparent from this point forward."
Another nearby neighbor, Rhoda Dougherty, said there had been "an outcry" about the project because of its location "in the middle of a rural community." Susan Plachy encouraged the Coast Guard "to take a step backward," stating that the commercial development in a rural residential area "is a bad fit." Barresi said he will ask if the decision to proceed with the project can be reversed, but he added that he had "to trust our screening process."
The Shore Road property that was formerly the First Light Farm Equine Shelter had been selected in 2018, scoring the highest on the criteria scale, with the housing project beginning in 2019. Barresi said the Coast Guard wants to make sure the housing blends in with the single-family houses on the road and is compatible with the architecture and character of the community. Asked by Perry resident Ann Skriletz whether there are not enough rental properties in the area for the Coast Guard families, Barresi said some coastguardsmen will continue to rent. "There will still be a demand for housing in the community." He also noted," We feel members do better when they can fully move into a community and not leave family behind."
Asked why the Coast Guard didn't look more at updating existing homes in the area, Barresi said there are restrictive codes for military housing, noting that it was estimated, in order to meet Coast Guard requirements, it would cost $600,000 to update the present Shore Road property house, which will be torn down. As part of the federal government, the Coast Guard has to pay Davis-Bacon wages to contractors, which is why work costs so much. Also, Barresi stated that the Coast Guard would not want disparities in housing for personnel of the same rank.
While the Coast Guard has determined there is sufficient groundwater available for eight dwellings, it will continue to study the possible impact on the wells of neighbors and will have additional work done on groundwater flow, to see if there could be an impact from the septic systems on the vernal pool. Also, the Coast Guard will continue to reach out to the Passamaquoddy Tribe and will plan to work with an archaeologist to identify any pre-contact artifacts on the property.
Shore Road resident Dennis Turner noted that the elementary school is near its capacity for 100 students and asked about the impact of additional Coast Guard students both on the school and on the town, which will have to pay to tuition the students to high school. Attorney Hamilton noted it may be possible that the Coast Guard could make a payment in lieu of taxes to the town, since the town will also lose the property tax revenue on the parcel.
Fred Bucklin, an abutting property owner, was concerned that his property's value may go down.
"You need to put in safeguards" so that property owners and the town do not suffer any negative economic impact, he said.
Also at the meeting were Carol Woodcock of Senator Susan Collins' office, Chris Rector of Senator Angus King's office and Morgan Pottle Urquhart of Congressman Jared Golden's office.
Comments on the project should be in writing and be sent by December 13 to Christy Benes, Wood E&IS, 285 Davidson Ave., Suite 405, Somerset, NJ 08873.