ARUNDEL — Parking and hunting concerns related to the Eastern Trail have prompted selectmen to take action, though the town has limited control over the trail’s use.
The Eastern Trail is a walking trail through the woods that will connect Kittery to South Portland at its completion. Part of the trail runs through Arundel, along the natural gas line property owned by the Unitil Corporation utility.
Bass Lane resident Melanie Mitchell complained at the Oct. 12 selectmen’s meeting that many Eastern Trail users are parking on her private road, which is very narrow, and therefore causing a nuisance.
“It is creating a problem, and I’m sure there is some reasonable solution,” she said.
The solution selectmen are proposing is a new parking ordinance that would impose a fine of $200 for anyone parking along sections of Limerick Road; near the intersection of Limerick and Campground roads; or parts of Talbot Drive, near the Eastern Trail entrances.
The ordinance was signed Oct. 12, and a public hearing will be held Monday, Nov. 8 before it can be finalized.
“We need to make it clear from the very beginning that we’re not going to tolerate parking in these spots,” said Selectman Mark Paulin, who advocated for the $200 fine.
Parking violation fines have typically been $10, according to Town Manager John Fraser, and were recently increased to $200 along Proctor Road to combat a problem with vehicles blocking driveways.
Selectmen Chairman Thomas Danylik said that enforceability of the new parking ordinance will be an issue because the town’s contract deputy cannot be sent onto private lanes to police them for parking violations. It was decided by the board that signs should be placed at the end of private roads near the trail, reminding motorists that they cannot park on the private way.
Paulin said he felt the Eastern Trail Alliance should purchase the “no parking” signs, since the group also has signs near the roads that designate trail heads. Selectman Dana Peck said he had spoken with Bob Hamblen of the Eastern Trail about signs for the private lanes and was told they are trying to address the issue.
“We have no power as a non-profit organization except as persuasion,” said Eastern Trail Alliance President John Andrews, Thursday. “Anything new when experienced, causes confusion.”
Fraser said parking is available at the town hall for trail users, but no other parking is provided in town.
“We have no money to make a lot,” he said.
In addition to the parking concerns, Paulin urged the board to pursue posting the trail with “no hunting” signs.
“Hunting season is upon us. I don’t want to wait for someone to get shot,” said Paulin. “I’m not going to walk the trail without blaze orange on.”
Andrews said the trail was not created with a hunting ban in mind and that hunting is “just part of the way of life in Maine.” He noted that parts of the trail running through Scarborough Marsh ”“ that were historically open to hunting ”“ remain so.
Since the trail is not on town property, permission would have to be granted from Unitil to post “no hunting” signs. Unitil Media Relations Manager Alec O’Meara said Thursday the company would be open to such signs.
“If they said they want to do posting on the trail, and they want to pay for it, we have no problem with that,” said O’Meara.
Fraser said Town Planner Tad Redway has discussed the town’s concerns about hunting on the trail with Unitil and would be pursuing a solution. Redway could not be reached for comment by press time.
— City Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 322 or kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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