A proposed recreational vehicle resort on a blueberry barren in Northport, Maine, has raised concerns among local residents about potential impacts on the town’s landscape and blueberry industry. Residents have voiced worries that the development could alter the rural character of the area and create safety issues due to increased traffic from large vehicles.
“The blueberries, I think, reflect our rural life here in Maine,” said Carrie Braman, a resident opposing the project. Braman and other opponents highlighted the risks associated with RV traffic entering and exiting a site without adequate sight lines.
“The idea of having these enormous vehicles pulling in and out of a spot with no sight lines is concerning to me,” she added.
In response to the proposal, local residents have launched a petition urging the town’s select board to reconsider the project. The petition has gathered more than 300 signatures. “It became clear, after hearing what the plan was, that we needed to do something to protect this land,” Braman said.
Town Administrator James Kossuth said the select board may implement a temporary pause on development to review the proposal. “The Select Board instructed me to draft a proposed moratorium to pause approvals of campgrounds to give the Town time to draft a permanent ordinance to regulate campgrounds,” Kossuth told News Center Maine.
A draft moratorium is expected to be ready for review at the board’s next regular meeting on April 13.
Michael Ruggiero, who owns the land proposed for the RV resort, said the project is intended to support ecotourism and that he wants to address residents’ concerns. “My goal is not really to shoehorn my project into Northport,” Ruggiero said.
“The reason why I selected this land is because I think it’s perfect for it. And I want to hear what the residents’ concerns are.”
Residents such as Braman emphasize the importance of maintaining the area’s scenic and rural qualities. “It would be more beneficial for those folks to be able to come up and come for a hike and see these beautiful views, without having the level of impact they would if they were actually camping here,” she said.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, this case highlights the need to balance development ambitions with local community values and environmental considerations, particularly when planning resorts or RV parks near sensitive or culturally significant lands.
Understanding local concerns and regulatory timelines, such as temporary moratoriums, can be critical for project approval and community engagement.