Concerns about the environmental impact on Knickerbocker Lake are delaying the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ pursuit of beginning the first phase of its $30-plus million expansion. In October, the CMBG applied for a permit to construct a new visitors center, gift shop, horticultural center and conservatory along with additional gardens. The project is part of the Botanical Gardens’ 20-year master plan for accommodating a massive increase in visitors during the past 12 years.

But the plan’s doubling of the number of parking spaces and use of a leach field has neighbors worried about contaminants potentially polluting Knickerbocker Lake. The planning board has twice tabled voting on approval. In October, the board requested a site review prior to voting. And last month, the board delayed voting in order to review additional Department of Environmental Protection reports received a few days prior to the meeting. The board also hired a consultant and wanted feedback from the peer review prior to voting.

CMBG officials requested an earlier December meeting in hopes of receiving approval in time to begin work this winter. Executive Director Bill Cullina told the board, if the project didn’t begin in January 2017, it would be delayed for another year. So the board scheduled a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15. Town officials changed the location from the municipal building to the Boothbay Region YMCA to accommodate an expected large crowd, according to Town Manager Dan Bryer.

Despite the project having receiving DEP and Army Corps of Engineering permits, the Boothbay Region Water District and Knickerbocker Lake Association are encouraging further delays in the proposal. Both organizations are concerned about the conversion of approximately nine acres of watershed forest and wetlands into parking and disposal fields. Those areas provide the best water quality protection for up to 12,000 gallons per day of sewage and other wastewater which impact Knickerbocker Lake, according to Water District officials.

The lake serves as the region’s secondary water supply. The Water District and Lake Association worry increased runoff from hard surfaces, increased inputs of phosphorus to Knickerbocker Lake and contaminants leaching from wastewater disposal fields will imperil the region’s water quality. The Water District wants more time to discuss possible alternatives to the current plan. 

“We’re concerned about their ability to safely manage, operate and maintain the sophisticated public water, wastewater, permeable surfaces and storm water management systems at a time when they are also proposing doubling the gardens and adding a new horticulture research and propagation center,” said BRWD Manager Jon Ziegra. “We’re hoping they will continue discussions regarding alternatives to increase parking spaces and want them to consider public water and sewer.”

The BRWD has been reviewing as many as three possible grant applications for public water and sewer, according to Ziegra.

The Lake Association, and the Anthony family, who owns a Gaecklein Road farmhouse bordering the Botanical Gardens, also support continued discussions concerning parking alternatives and funding options for sewer and water. Cullina shares the Botanical Gardens’ neighbors’ concerns about protecting the region’s water supply, but disagrees with their conclusion.

He estimates connecting to public sewer would cost $2.5 million, and water and sewer together, are a $4 million expense. He said the DEP has approved a “well-designed septic system proposal.” 

“We’re just as concerned about water quality as they are,” Cullina said. “It makes no sense to put in a system for $2 million dollars when a $250,000 septic system does the same thing. It doesn’t make any sense environmentally or economically.”

Kevin Anthony is Vaughn and Joanne Anthony’s son. He also lives on Gaecklein Road near the Botanical Gardens. He is among the project’s critics who believe the project is too big for a residential zone. He believes installing public water and sewer and reducing the number of parking spaces would alleviate environmental concerns. His family has also been the expansion project’s most vocal critic since the proposal emerged last spring.

Kevin Anthony believes the planning board should deny a permit based on current municipal regulations. He believes the proposal violates local noise ordinances and would involve lights at night, in addition to environmental problems caused by storm water runoff. He described the proposed parking plan of nearly 800 spaces as inappropriate for a residentially zoned neighborhood.

“This is a commercial development in a residential district. If this happens, the parking lot would be bigger than the Brunswick Wal-Mart’s and Mid Coast Hospital’s combined. And they are in a commercial zone with buffers and protection for wetlands,” he said.

Cullina defends the Botanical Gardens’ need to grow. He describes the Gardens as one of the state’s top tourist attractions.

“Only Acadia National Park has more visitors,” he said. “The master plan envisions turning the Botanical Gardens into a year-round destination. That is good for us, and for the local economy, as well. Without expansion, we’d have to turn people away at the gate, and didn’t want to do that.”

The expansion also provides more educational opportunities in the community. A new education building provides more programs for school-age students. The new facilities also provide for expanded horticultural programs to landscaping and other green-related businesses.

During the Dec. 15 meeting, the peer review report is likely to spark considerable discussion. FB Environmental, a Portland consulting firm specializing in directing environmental planning, reported concerns about the amount of phosphorus exported by the project. The DEP permit stated 1.87 pounds of phosphorus would be exported annually. The figure is the same as allowed under environmental regulations to be released without causing a decline in water quality, according to BRWD officials.

“The town’s independent peer reviewer agreed DEP likely overestimated the allowable amount,” Ziegra said. “CMBG didn’t include phosphorus from the leach field in their calculations. So they underestimated how much would be exported.”

If the planning board grants approval, that still may not settle the matter. Kevin Anthony is considering appealing a possible approval. He or anybody else  would need to file an appeal within 30 days following a decision. He is also considering appealing the Botanical Gardens’ permit granted by DEP.

“I’m not sure how that will go. I don’t see too many environmentally friendly people on the board. They’re LePage appointees with one owning a petroleum company. Another option is going to Superior Court, but I’m not sure what I will do.”

Planning Board Chairman Alan Bellows still has several questions regarding the DEP report, peer review and expansion proposal. He’s not sure whether the board will make a decision during the meeting.

“I still have questions and I can’t predict what the other members will do. So I’m not able to predict what will happen,” Bellows said.

According to information the Botanical Gardens submitted to the DEP, the project “permanently alters 62,621 square feet of freshwater wetlands, indirectly, and alters 12,124 square feet of freshwater and coastal wetlands due to shading effects of the wetlands, converts 3,211 square feet of forested freshwater wetland to emergent wetland, and permanently alters 262,935 square feet of critical terrestrial habitat of eight significant vernal pools.”

The CMBG’s mission statement calls for inspiring meaningful connection among people, plants and nature through horticulture, education and research. Cullina said his organization knows how to care for the environment, and would never do anything to harm it.