On July 17 at 5:30 p.m. the Town Council held a workshop to discuss the potential referendum questions for this November’s ballot. One of these questions includes a request to replenish the land bond fund. The land bond fund is a town fund that was created in 2000 for the purpose of purchasing land for conservation. Unlike what a traditional bond referendum looks like, the land bond does not have an immediate impact on taxpayers, as it authorizes future bonding for land conservation.

Shupe

Scarborough voters have overwhelmingly supported every land bond referendum that has come forward since the creation of the land bond fund. The town has contributed $7.5 million towards the acquisition of land for conservation in this 24-year span. Scarborough’s commitment to land conservation has helped successfully obtain grants from the federal and state government and attract donors and matching funds from organizations like the Scarborough Land Trust, Land for Maine’s Future and the Maine Farmland Trust. These partnerships have led to conservation and preservation of land throughout the town, including Pleasant Hill Preserve, Warren Woods, Fuller Farm, Broadturn Farm and Silver Brook Preserve.

As of today, there is approximately $14,000 remaining in the town’s land bond fund. With a Town Council goal to conserve 30% of Scarborough land by 2030, more funds are needed. There are many public and economic benefits to land conservation that make this goal so important for Scarborough. The No. 1 concern expressed by our community in the recent survey was the rapid pace of growth and expansion. By conserving land, not only are we protecting our natural resources from development and preserving drinking water and water quality in our rivers, streams and marsh, we are also providing open space for our residents and visitors to enjoy.

Historically, conserving land is cost neutral to a town budget, while residential development adds more to a town’s cost of services and infrastructure beyond the tax revenues it receives. As one of the fastest growing communities in the state, it is even more important for us to act now to protect our natural resources and maintain the open space that has attracted residents to Scarborough.

The request before the Town Council is for a $6 million replenishment of the land bond, which accounts for the rising cost of land and the town’s 30×30 goal. This recommendation comes from the town’s Parks and Conservation Land Board, which is responsible for evaluating the applications the town receives for land bond funds. The board has developed a detailed acquisition evaluation process for properties, based on factors such as size, preservation of natural resources, location to habitat, public access and creating connectivity.

Most recently the board recommended, and Town Council approved, the use of $800,000 towards the preservation of an additional 130 acres at Silver Brook Preserve in western Scarborough. This recent Silver Brook Preserve expansion now connects 813 acres of continuous conserved land between Scarborough, Saco and Buxton. With no further funds available in the land bond, the town may miss opportunities like Silver Brook Preserve in the future. The town is also currently in the process of developing an Open Space Conservation Plan. This plan will guide and prioritize land conservation efforts. With no funds in the land bond, we will be unable to act on the land conservation recommendations from this plan.

Scarborough is a leader in land conservation. No other town in Maine has spent as many local dollars on conserving their natural resources. I will try to continue our leadership in land conservation by encouraging my fellow councilors to support placing this $6 million land bond on the November ballot. To learn more about the land bond I invite residents to attend our upcoming Council Corner Live on Aug. 7 to learn more about the land bond – stay tuned for details.

Karin Shupe is a member of the Scarborough Town Council. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Scarborough Town Council.