| Joanne Cole |
Cobbs Bridge residents stepped up in person and by letter at the Planning Board on April 19 to support a new barn proposed by Jim Carty and Thelma Maguire for 170 Cobbs Bridge Road. Joining in by memorandum with its blessing was the New Gloucester Historical Society. Under the zoning ordinance, the Historical Society reviews projects within the Historical Resource Overlay District for visual and materials compatibility and other standards.
That left the Planning Board. They, in turn, unanimously agreed that Carty and Maguire’s application met all required criteria. ‘Application approved. Bring on the Highland cows!’ seemed to be the prevailing sentiment.
Applicant Jim Carty had previously mentioned that the barn and field would be home for two Highland cows. The cows had figured lightly in the board’s substantive discussion—manure and runoff—but prominently in the comments of the neighbors, who welcomed the prospect of the field returning to a traditional, agricultural use.
Buzz Lamb recalled barns formerly on the parcel. The new barn, Lamb said, “fits in well and it encourages a use of the property we’d love to see stay.” Gina Sawin pointed to key goals in the Comprehensive Plan to preserve and augment the town’s rural character, especially important given development pressure across Cumberland County, she noted. “It’s so great that someone wants to do something agricultural and rural and so perfectly in keeping with that part of New Gloucester,” Sawin said.
The proposed barn “looks very much in keeping with the historical design and nature of other barns in the area,” said Charles Gauvin. The barn “marks out this property out as a rural property and an agricultural property, which are really important values in this community,” he said.
By letter, neighbors Jennifer and Evan Bradstreet said the barn complements the Carty-Maguire house, honors the property’s past and will be “a beautiful additional to the Historic District.” Parents of a four-year-old, the Bradstreets added, “Not only do we support the barn, we were thrilled to learn that Highland cows are part of the plan!”
Longtime residents, like Planning Board member Steve Libby who recalled the team of oxen when Alma and Malcolm Berry owned the property decades ago, are likely to agree.
To view video of the Planning Board’s April 19, 2022, meeting, click here. For meeting agendas and related documents, click here.
