Milton ZBA denies Mi-Te-Jo expansion a second time

Mi-Te-Jo Campground's number of sites will stay around 220 instead of the proposed 315. (Courtesy photo)

MILTON - After dozens of Milton and Lebanon residents spoke unanimously in opposition to the proposed expansion of Mi-Te-Jo Campground, Milton's Board of Adjustment on Thursday voted unanimously to deny the campground's application.

During a tense more than four-hour meeting, residents claimed the 95-site expansion along with amenities that would have included pools, a water park and café would have an injurious effect on Northeast Pond.

Zoning Board of Adjustment chairman Board member Michael Tabory further said he believed some of the proposed amenities, like the café and water park, would be in opposition to present town ordinance.

But the lion's share of criticism came in the form of concerns for the health and wellbeing of Northeast Pond and to Milton Three Ponds in general.

Norm Turgeon of TPPA, noting that residents have spoken passionately and incessantly about the damage the expansion would do to the lake, its fish and plant life, may have summed it up best when he told the board, "The only way you can conclude this is not injurious is if you ignore everything people have been telling you."

Lebanon Selectmen Chairman Chip Harlow told the board that campground expansion proponents had brought no studies to the table proving how the expansion would not be detrimental or injurious to the lake.

"Show us the proof," he demanded.

Skip Bridges of Milton talked about the potential impact on the "neighborhood," which he described as the fish and plant life that would be threatened.

"That's the neighborhood," he said.

The ZBA first rejected the expansion last September but reopened public hearing after it was determined that Acton and Lebanon in Maine both should have been allowed input on the expansion since they, too, were stakeholders.