By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

DENMARK — For over 10 years, Mark and Julia Schrader have found playing disc golf as a peaceful outing and a chance to enjoy Maine’s natural beauty.

“We thought we could do that here,” said the former school principal at last Thursday’s Denmark Planning Board meeting. “We want to share the beauty of our property with others. We do not want to create chaos.”

The vision expanded to include axe throwing, which is growing in popularity across the state. The facility would be seasonal, running May 1 to about Oct. 30.

“If anyone has been on a disc golf course before, they would know that it’s a fairly calm group of folks, very environmentally friendly, and they’re not prone to having problems,” Schrader said. “This golf is a relatively quiet sport, not like regular golf. There’ll be cheers occasionally when someone has a great shot. But, it will not change the serenity of what Hio Ridge has to offer.”

Neighbors, however, think differently. Several people voiced concerns about increased traffic, noise from the axe-throwing lanes and real estate devaluation.

The public hearing drew a full house at the Denmark Town Office as planners reviewed submitted information and identified missing material the Schraders will need to provide for their application to be considered.

Before the hearing started, Planning Board member Tom Lynch recused himself, citing he is an abutter to the Hio Ridge Road proposed disc golf site.

Planners made two site visits (July 16 and Aug. 5). Board Chairman Thomas Carabine explained that the proposed use is permitted in the rural district under the town’s zoning standard, which allows “public or private recreational facility including parks, playgrounds, golf courses, and driving range.”

Carabine noted that proposed alcohol sale at the pro shop does not fall within the Planning Board’s jurisdiction, rather a liquor license is granted by the Select Board.

Mark Schrader gave an overview of his proposal. He projected the facility could see 20 to 25 cars at a time, which would be maximum capacity. While playing at a Vermont course, Schrader learned that due to high demand, the facility had instituted tee times.

“That helped keep their numbers down so they didn’t have a stack of people waiting to play,” he said. “I don’t know if our business volume will require that, but it’s certainly something we would consider.”

The pro shop measures 24-feet by 24-feet. The shop will be stocked with t-shirts, discs, snacks and drinks. A screened area will house five axe-throwing lanes. There will be a solid wall, which throwers will toss axes at.

“I am going to put rubber mats on the walls for safety and to keep down the noise,” Schrader said. He noted that “background music” playing over a speaker for those relaxing after play to enjoy is the plan.

Schrader emphasized he does not want an “out of control situation” on his hands. “We have no desire whatsoever to expand beyond what we have shared here tonight,” he added. “I would be shocked if people would hear us on Schrader Road. You’re more likely to hear gunfire coming from Pleasant Mountain from hunters than hearing disc golf outside of our home.”

Planners then posed various questions regarding parking (Schrader noted that a second parking lot had been removed from the plan), erosion controls, and whether the pro shop would have bathroom facilities. Schrader said short-term, porta-potties would be utilized, while the long-term plan calls for a composting system. With no sinks, hand sanitizer dispensers will be available.

Chairman Carabine gave a lengthy list of missing information required under the zoning ordinances. The list included failing to identify all structures on the site plan, location of all utilities, where streams and vernal pools are located, property contours, a need for “accurate” survey and design plans, impact letter from Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regarding wildlife and habitat, and providing a stormwater management plan.

Schrader reminded Carabine that some items he listed had been “waived” at a previous meeting, and he questioned why the long to-do list had not been given to him prior to Thursday’s hearing, thus giving him time to address some of the points.

Carabine responded that additional questions arose after the site walks and part of Thursday’s hearing was to “go over the details.”

Planner Laurie LaMountain suggested to the Schraders to seek out professional assistance in finalizing the plan so that all information required under the town’s zoning ordinances can be gathered and included in the proposal’s narrative.

Public Comments

Bruce Campbell and his wife, Jennifer, moved to their Hio Ridge home 13 years ago because of its peaceful location. The proposed disc golf facility will change that with headlights flashing onto their home as vehicles leave the parking lot, more traffic and noise from patrons and axe throwing.

“I don’t begrudge anybody laughing. I love to hear people laugh. It just could get a little loud. I don’t think there’s any way to buffer that,” said Campbell of players out on the disc golf course. “If anybody that doesn’t live in that area drives down through there you can tell it’s a great area...We did everything we could to improve our property. It’s an investment for us. I don’t need to be a realtor, but if we chose to sell and there is 25 or 30 cars in a parking lot and a realtor comes up to show somebody the house, there goes our investment.”

Campbell said people live on Hio Ridge Road for its “peace and quiet.”

“I just think that this is not a good fit...(Hio Ridge) is a pristine, scenic drive. We get walkers, we get runners,” he said.

David Gagnon, who resides across the street from the Schraders, noted Mark Schrader opened his comments by saying he enjoys the privacy of his property and the beautiful views that he has.

“We all do because we all moved there for the same reason — the privacy, and the scenic country road that Hio Ridge has been,” said Gagnon, noting he circulated a petition against the proposal, which many signed. “It’s been a scenic road for as long as I can remember and very little traffic.”

Like others, Gagnon is concerned as to what the effect the disc golf facility could have regarding values of nearby homes.

“You know it’s bound to effect the value of it when prospective buyers see this going on next door with there’s traffic going in and out,” he said. “People move to the country for solitude, privacy, scenic, that’s what they expect, and that’s what we expect. This certainly doesn’t contribute to that.”

One resident voiced his support for the project, saying, “They’re proposing a disc golf course, not an amusement park. Yeah, I guess we don’t know what’s going to happen down the road, but it seems like we’re catastrophizing here. Light pollution, I think it’s going to be a lot less than Pleasant Mountain is. I mean, everyone on High Ridge Road can see that all winter. I also play disc golf and the impact on the wildlife, it’s basically like a big hiking trail. It’s spread out a little more, but it’s not going to clear cut the area like a regular golf course would be.”

Neighbor Suzanne Richard was curious as to why the Schraders looked to pair disc golf and axe throwing while also serving alcoholic beverages. Richards researched areas where axe throwing is being offered. She found most venues are in larger cities like Lewiston, Westbrook, Portland and Bangor.

“It seems that possibly the disc golf is a daytime crowd, possibly the axe throwing and the alcohol is a nighttime crowd. I just don’t quite understand the pairing. If the primary use of this land for recreational use is the disc golf, why add the axe throwing in the alcohol?” she posed. “The only reason I can figure that it’s paired is because it’s a money-making venue and it’s happening in my backyard.”

Another resident reminded people that the Schraders “were big pieces of the educational system within our area” and “I can’t see them encouraging an atmosphere that creates harm.”

Aaron Hagan, who lives on Mountain Road, reminded the crowd that the Planning Board’s job is to see if the proposal fits the town’s ordinances.

“There is nothing subjective about what we approve or not,” he said. “Our discussion tonight was about the parts we thought needed to be addressed in order for the application to fit our ordinance. That’s the basis for the comments that the Planning Board had tonight.”

The board will continue the hearing once the Schraders submit information requested by planners. The hearing date will be advertised beforehand.