04/29/2013

Conservation Commission sets two public forums on Greenbelt Plan update

05/18/2013 - The information in this article is out of date. Please click here for latest update.

The Conservation Commission has scheduled two public forums seeking comment on its work to update the 2001 Greenbelt Plan.

• The first on May 30 will cover recommendations for trails in the northern half of town - from Scott Dyer and Wells Road north.
• The second, on June 6, will cover recommendations for trails in the southern half.

Both are scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Town Hall chamber. [directions] Draft goals for the entire greenbelt will be reviewed at each forum.

Why is the Conservation Commission updating the Greenbelt Plan?

The most recent Greenbelt Plan was adopted in 2001. The comprehensive plan recommends that master plans be updated every seven years, so the current Greenbelt Plan is due for review. Greenbelt and open space preservation is a consistently high priority for Cape Elizabeth residents. The first Greenbelt Plan was prepared in 1977, followed by a second in 1988.

From 'hub and spoke' to 'spiderweb' system

The most recent draft of the 2013 Greenbelt Plan shifts the goals of the greenbelt from a hub and spoke greenbelt trail system to more of a spiderweb, where every neighborhood is within walking distance of a public greenbelt trail.

The draft recommends expansion of the existing public trail network. Priorities for expansion would include connections to:

• Underserved neighborhoods
• Destination open spaces, such as Fort Williams Park, Gull Crest and Winnick Woods
• Important town destinations, such as the Town Center, School Campus and Business A Neighborhood Districts
• Water bodies
• Areas that take advantage of opportunities, such as when:
  • New development is proposed;
  • Property owners are willing to contribute to the greenbelt;
  • Coordinated with non-greenbelt projects;
  • Paper streets can be utilized;
  • Grant funding creates opportunities

Mark up maps

The Conservation Commission will be inviting forum attendees to mark up maps with their favorite or most hoped for trails, and also identifying their priorities.

For more information, please contact Town Planner Maureen O'Meara, 207-799-0115, and continue to check this website for the most current information.