The Cape Elizabeth Town Council is expected at its July meeting to finalize an agreement to contribute $75,000 from the town’s land acquisition fund toward the purchase of a 21-acre parcel near Great Pond.
The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust has a contract to purchase the property for $315,000 from Barry Glew. At the June 13 council meeting the land trust asked town leaders for help in meeting its Aug. 1 closing costs.
The wooded parcel borders exisiting conservation land next to Great Pond. The town’s financial contribution is contingent upon the land trust raising the remaining funds and the town and land trust agreeing on how the property will be managed.
The parcel, which would be known as the Great Pond Preserve II, offers an “opportunity for the type of connectivity that’s so critical to the town’s greenbelt plan,” says Cindy Krum, executive director of the land trust.
And, Elizabeth Goodspeed, a member of the land trust board, said working with the town on purchasing the property provides a “perfect opportunity for (cooperation), because we can work together on the placement of trails, the creation of new trails, non-motorized public access and also increasing connectivity with both existing and future town trails.”
The $75,000 donation would use up almost all the money remaining in the land acquisition fund, according to Town Manager Michael McGovern.
– Kate Irish Collins
Contributing $75,000 from the town’s land aquisition fund to purchase a 21-acre parcel near Great Pond would nearly deplete the account.
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