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July 27, 2018
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Coast Guard ‘s plan for housing in Perry generates concerns
by
Edward French

 

     A proposal to establish housing for Coast Guard personnel stationed in Eastport on property in Perry generated some concerns at the July 11 meeting of the Perry Planning Board.
The Coast Guard is looking to purchase the 75-acre parcel on the Shore Road owned by Fred and Andrea Barstow, who operated First Light Farm there. The proposal calls for five or six houses, with the Coast Guard believing the land could handle up to 12 houses. Currently the Coast Guard only has funding to purchase the property and is hoping to obtain more funding for constructing the houses.
     Karen Raye, chair of the Perry Select Board, who attended the meeting, says the proposal does not require any approval from the town. "They're just trying to be good neighbors and want people to know what they're doing." The Coast Guard had asked the town's code enforcement officer about Perry's subdivision ordinance, which is why the matter was referred to the planning board. However, the plan would not be a subdivision, and the federal government doesn't have to follow the local ordinance anyway, Raye says.
     Because abutting property owners had not been notified about the proposal, Raye says the select board has asked the Coast Guard to have a representative speak at a select board meeting, suggesting the July 31 meeting. "I would feel better about blessing the project if they did consult and talk with the abutting property owners about what it will look like, how far they'll be from the property lines and things like that."
     According to Raye, some of the people attending the planning board meeting raised concerns about the loss of property taxes, since the land would become tax exempt if it is owned by the federal government. Raye says she has mixed feelings about the proposal. While she supports the Coast Guard, she is concerned if too many families with children move into town. She notes that the Perry Elementary School is near capacity and if too many new students come in "it could create an issue." While the school system would receive state subsidy for any new students, a significant increase in the student population could "create a need for a larger school  although I don't foresee that," says Raye.
     Representing the Coast Guard at the meeting was Peter Spinella, a realtor with the Coast Guard, but he says he cannot comment on the proposal. Chief Josh Smith, officer in charge of Station Eastport, says there has been an ongoing need for housing for married members of the Coast Guard. He says currently about 30% of the 23 Coast Guard personnel at Station Eastport have families, but he stresses that can change as crews rotate through. Smith himself has four children. Some of the personnel have been living as far as Whiting, Baileyville and Calais, and Smith says the Coast Guard "is trying to keep the commute to here minimal."
     While Smith notes that the Coast Guard has been talking about establishing housing in the area for some time, Raye understands that the current plan is moving forward "fairly quickly."

 

 

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