Residents of Columbia Falls have approved a new slate of zoning rules that were developed after a local family proposed building the world’s largest flagpole in town.
The rules, which took a year to formulate after the town enacted a temporary ban on major developments, were approved by a 10-vote margin, 37-27, according to town officials.
The 64 voters represent roughly 13 percent of the town’s 476 residents.
The restrictions passed on Tuesday even though the Worcester family last month dropped their pursuit of a local, multibillion-dollar veterans history park that would have featured a tower nearly 1,500 feet tall that doubled as the world’s largest flagpole. The new rules do not allow such a project in the part of town the Worcesters had hoped to build the Flagpole of Freedom Park, town officials have said.
The flagpole proposal was polarizing for people in and out of Columbia Falls. Supporters said the development would boost the Worcesters’ oft-stated goal of honoring the sacrifices of military veterans and their families while also bringing economic development. Detractors said the enormous project would harm the area’s untouched character and would amount to a misuse of funds that could be better used to help veterans in other, more practical ways.
The new development rules are retroactive to March 2022, when the enormous flagpole idea was first publicized, and will apply to any new development proposals submitted to the town.
This includes the Worcesters’ Flagpole View Cabins project, which was built without proper state approvals and resulted earlier this month in a $250,000 fine from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
The Worcesters have since applied for after-the-fact state permits for the cabins and, if they want to build any more, would have to abide by the town’s new zoning rules and apply for any additional permits that may still be required, officials have said.
