KEEPMECURRENT.COM: SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND IN MAINE

In Waterboro, Maine, people who want to conserve land and those who want to build communications towers on it should be at odds. But that is not the case in Waterboro, where members of the recently formed Waterboro Land Trust are about to sit down with representatives from a company that wants to build a communications tower on land promised to the trust by the town. Whether the two groups can come to an agreement remains to be seen. The town stands to gain $250,000 through the 10-year life of the proposed lease. Meanwhile, acquisition by the trust would give the nonprofit land conservation group its first parcel – and some credibility for its mission to attract donors of privately owned land. There are concerns about where power would run to the tower and road work that needs to be done to make the site accessible.  Concerns about potential erosion and overall aesthetics were also raised.

Question to the Blogosphere:  Would an agreement that is satisfactory to both the conservationists and the construction company be possible without face to face negotiations in Maine?  How is this scenario a microcosm of other conflicts and how is it different?  What about the situation in Maine makes it easier to find common ground and what about it might make it harder?