DEXTER, Maine — The Dexter Town Council will consider support for or concerns related to proposed changes to the Abbott Hill school property lot during a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Three ordinances are on the table for the councilors. Two of the ordinances are recommended by the planning board, while the third is proposed by the developer.
Gerry Marshall, owner of Gerry’s Used Cars, bought the 42-acre property known as Map 8, Lot 16 in Dexter more than a year ago. The lot has the former Dexter Primary and Middle School and has shoreline on big Lake Wassookeag.
The first ordinance proposed by the planning board would change the property from a residential to commercial zone. It also would allow a campground with 3,000-square-foot sites, add a commercial convention center definition and a review of campground and convention center by the planning board.
The planning board also proposed the second ordinance, which would allow building on slopes of less than 20 percent, allow those slopes to be designated limited commercial zone and keep slopes that are greater than 20 percent in resource protection.
The third ordinance, which is proposed by Marshall and his engineer Al Hodsdon, would change the property from a residential to commercial zone and allow campgrounds with no site dimension requirements.
After hearing feedback from the public, Town Manager Linda-Jean Briggs said the council can vote on it that night, table it for another meeting or refer it back to the planning board for further evaluation.
“I’m looking to make a major, major expansion on that property,” said Marshall on Sunday. “Since the early 1950s, it has not been a taxable property for the town because it was a school system. It would be brand new tax dollars for the area.”
In previous planning board meetings, Marshall said he plans to build four cabins, a lodge and a toboggan run on the west side of the lot near the lake. On the east side near Grove Street, he wants to build apartments. On top of the hill, he plans to have a campground with a swimming pool. He would like to turn the former school gym into a convention center and transform one of the schools into an assisted-living center.
The planning board meetings were well-attended by the public, with many voicing their concern or opposition to changes to the property, specifically taking the shoreland out of resource protection because the property is near the town’s drinking water intake.
“All I’m asking for is to be treated like everyone else on the lake, not more, just to be treated the same,” said Marshall.
On June 28, the planning board voted 4-2 to recommend to the town council their changes to the property.
Dexter Lakes Association president Steve Wintle said he was frustrated that there was no public forum before the vote.
“You couldn’t put that bar any lower for the Marshalls than you did tonight,” said Wintle during the June 28 planning board meeting. “As currently proposed, he can move forward as one single lot and he doesn’t have to prove anything in regard to hydrology, phosphorus loading, termination of soils and wetlands by an experienced person and projection of how this is going to affect the lake.”
Members from the Dexter Lakes Association and members of the Dexter Utility District have vocally opposed the proposed development on the property.
Briggs said on Sunday that she won’t recommend one ordinance over another, but hoped a decision could be made to help bring business to Dexter.
“I want business in town. Whatever we can do to bring responsible business to fruition, I’m behind,” said Briggs. “But we need to be mindful of environmental protection. I’m willing to work with any developer who wants to bring the common good to Dexter.”
Marshall said he can provide that.
“The townspeople in general appear to support me tremendously,” said Marshall. “All the local businesses, all the local people, they’re all thumbs up and they’re for me.”
The public hearing will be in the Dexter Town Council chambers at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Good old Boys Club. Take note that the Assisted Living Project at the Parkman School didn’t even get off the ground and now it’s waiting to become a homeless shelter. It’s off the tax roles because it’s considered a “church”. Can you say corruption?
THUMBS UP…..GIVE HIM THE GREEN LIGHT…..THAT TOWN NEEDS SOMETHING
The whole town is not behind Marshall from this article so I’m not sure why Mr. Marshall thinks the whole town is behind him. Obviouslly they’re not. I agree with the town manager that new buisness is good for the town but they need to be wise and think ahead. If Mr. Marshall’s property is changed from residential to commercial property does this mean that in the future he will be able to change his plans and put any type of buisness up on the hill. Keep in mind town counsil that the children of Dexter attend school just down the street from Mr. Marshalls property. Also, keep our drinking water clean! Only unzone what falls above the 20% grade and just his property alone will bring in some good tax dollars!
All I’m asking for is to be treated like everyone else on the lake, not more, just to be treated the same,” said Marshall.
That is exactly what has not happened. If he was to be treated like everyone else on the lake he would be required to do all of the things advocated by Mr. Wintle.
The Planning Board and Town Council have ceded any moral authority to enforce lakefront land use regulations if they allow this development. Is anyone going to take them seriously regarding tree removal, for example, going forward. As an out of state lakefront landowner, I pay $3,700.00 per year in property taxes for the privilege of having no say whatsoever on this issue and it’s a shame those duly elected officals are asleep at the wheel.
To think that they vetoed the use of the old state-owned boat ramp due to water quality issues and are allowing this development is laughable.
Mr Marshall wants to bring business to Dexter and This is a bad thing??? He bought the property, he should be able to use it. Steve Wintle is the last one that should be throwing stones, it is my understanding that he was fined for the stuff he did on the lake. To many out- of -towners are coming in to our towns and trying to control what we do. Go home we can run our own town and lives without you. Go Mr Marshall we need more business and jobs in Dexter!!!!!
How short-sighted and to be honest, snobbish. Seems to me the “out-of-towners” like to spend money in our community and if it is at the Lake, they have a LOT of money to spend. If Mr Marshall brings business, I guarantee you it will be these “out-of-towners” you speak so badly about. Smarten up. PS, the town Manager is one of those out-of-towners too.
My point exactly with the town manager, have you seen her argue and yell at our elected officials, she works for them not the other way around. Not all out of towners are bad, just the ones that think they are better then us and don’t want to see the real residents of Dexter benefit from what could be a good thing.
As “out of towners” who moved to Dexter five years ago, we go to work, come home, mind our own business and pay our bills. We spend our money locally at Bud’s, the gas station and Reny’s. We have no interest in compelling anyone else to do anything. Maybe you should avoid sweeping generalizations in your future posts; or is that suggestion too controlling?