October 1, 2023

Native Information

The tiny city of Columbia Falls in Maine is extending its moratorium on massive developments for an additional six months following a proposal for a flagpole taller than the Empire State Constructing

The Nice River flows by Columbia Falls, Maine, April 27, 2023. AP Photograph/Rodrique Ngowi, File

COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine (AP) — Plans to construct the world’s tallest flagpole are being delayed — once more.

The tiny city of Columbia Falls in Maine is extending its moratorium on massive developments for an additional six months following a proposal for a flagpole taller than the Empire State Constructing, with an statement deck and a flag bigger than a soccer subject. The deliberate attraction would even have an auditorium, dwelling historical past museums and a monument.

City officers stated they lacked guidelines and rules for such a big undertaking.

  • A rendering of a proposed world's tallest flagpole in Maine.

    They envision the world’s tallest flagpole on this Maine city. As a substitute of uniting, it’s dividing.

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The city of 485 residents started grappling with zoning rules after Morrill Worcester proposed a construction stretching skyward some 1,461 ft (445 meters). Worcester’s household operates a wreath-making firm and based the Wreaths Throughout America group, which offers vacation wreaths for army cemeteries.

Columbia Falls residents voted to undertake a six-month moratorium in March to present native officers time to draft rules. The three-member Choose Board voted unanimously Monday night to proceed the moratorium. City officers are making progress on proposed ordinances throughout weekly public proceedings, stated Jeff Greene, a Choose Board member.

“The primary 180 days weren’t sufficient time to shine and full this,” he stated.

The Worcester household had no speedy touch upon the extra six-month delay.

The proposal for the flagpole is supposed to unite individuals by their love of the flag, recount the story of the U.S. by the eyes of veterans, and create jobs. For the Worcesters, the undertaking was an extension of their patriotic enterprise, which incorporates producing greater than 1 million balsam wreaths for veterans’ grave makers every vacation season.

However as an alternative, it created division locally. Some residents stated the dimensions of the proposal is so giant that it could eternally change a rural area identified for its rocky coast, woodlands and blueberry barrens.