Maine's highest court sides with Pingree inn over neighbor's complaint
A historic inn on North Haven owned by U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, 1st District, has prevailed in a legal dispute regarding its expansion, the Bangor Daily News reported.
Tuesday’s decision, by the Maine State Supreme Judicial Court, ends a legal challenge brought by a neighbor, Steven Wolfram, over construction of a two-story building on Nebo Lodge’s property.
Nebo Lodge, which is owned by Pingree and operated by her daughter and former Democratic Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, received town approval to build a two-story building on the inn’s property.
That decision was challenged by Wolfram, who owns a summer house next to the inn. After losing before the Superior Court last year he appealed to Maine’s highest court, which affirmed the judgment.
In its 13-page opinion, the Supreme Judicial Court dismissed Wolfram’s contention that the expansion violated a land-use ordinance.
It held that the section in question allows for expansion of any nonconforming structure “provided that the expansion does not exceed 33% of the ground area of the previous structure.”
Judges also dismissed Wolfram’s argument that his due process rights had been violated by bias and ex parte communications between Nebo Lodge and planning board members.
Nebo Lodge has nine guest rooms and a restaurant and bar. It opens for the season on June 23.
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