BANGOR, Maine — The City Council discussed suspending its own rules Monday to pass an ordinance supporting the formation of a national park in the Katahdin region, holding off only to allow for public comment on the issue.
Instead, the council sent a proposed resolution sponsored by Councilor Sean Faircloth to its Business and Economic Development Committee for discussion later this month.
A majority of the council spoke in favor of the proposed national park, saying it would serve as an economic driver for the region.
“Rural Maine is in an economic crisis and has been in an economic crisis for a long time,” said Councilor Joe Baldacci.
Baldacci said the economic state of northern Maine and the Katahdin region is “really equivalent at this point to the time of the Great Depression.”
In attendance was Lucas St. Clair, president of Elliotsville Plantation Inc., which owns the land to be donated to the park.
St. Clair said support of cities such as Bangor would play a role when Congress is approached about creating a new national park.
Despite statements from councilors that the national park would help replace waning forest industry jobs, he said the park is “not a zero sum game.”
“We’re not introducing a national park to take the place of industry that once was there. This is an additional economic driver in the region … and I hope those economic drivers like the forest industries come back. They need to,” St. Clair said.
St. Clair also said the purpose of the proposed park was to conserve the land for future generations.
Only Councilor Pauline Civiello voiced dissent on the issue, saying she preferred to wait voters in East Millinocket decide a referendum on the issue in June.
“I feel it’s the citizens of that area that need to weigh in on whether or not they want that park there, not me as a Bangor city councilor,” she said.
Faircloth said the addition of a second national park to Maine could generate between 450 and 1,000 jobs for the region. He cited two studies by Headwaters Economics, a Montana-based research group. Both studies were conducted at the request of Elliotsville Plantation Inc.
“Essentially, my focus is 100 percent exclusively about jobs,” he said in a previous statement.
St. Clair said it’s too soon to say when congressional approval for the park will be sought, but 2016 would be the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, making it an ideal year.
Several residents spoke in favor of the park, including Brad Ryder, owner of Epic Sports in Bangor.
“I support this proposal not only for its outstanding conservation benefits, but also because of the positive impact it would have on Maine’s economy, including my very own business,” he said.
Follow Evan Belanger on Twitter at @evanbelanger.