THE ACCESS POINT to Woodward Cove. The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust is looking to preserve the area by buying a parcel curently owned by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick.
It will be up to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick to decide whether to sell an access point used by shellfish harvesters to a local land trust.
The church’s board of directors voted Oct. 21 to ask the congregation whether it wants to sell the land. That is, if the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust finds $125,000 in funds in order to purchase the land, according to the church board’s chairwoman, Cindy Parker.
The congregation may hold the vote Nov. 23.
“I think our congregation would be thrilled to sell the parcel to the land trust,” said Parker.
The land, which lies off Gurnet Road, is used by shellfish and bloodworm harvesters to access mudflats at Woodward Cove.
The cove is temporarily closed in order to allow for the study of green crab infestation, but is expected to reopen in February.
Parker said the church had initially been hoping to find a buyer to purchase the land for more than $200,000, but in light of recent appraisals on the property, that asking price “is a little ludicrous,” said Parker.
“We have to sell it at a level that is appropriate. And we have to be realistic,” she said.
Selling the property to the land trust would also help fulfill the church’s mission statement, which includes caring for the earth, Parker said.
The church purchased the 20-acre plot several years ago with plans to relocate from its Middle Street site. When their church burnt in 2011, church members opted to rebuild on its current site.
Parker said the church no longer needs the Gurnet Road site, the sale of which would help repay a bank loan used for rebuilding the church.
“We would all feel much better seeing the piece of land preserved and protected, rather than having a couple of house lots on it,” said Parker.
In cooperation with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust is applying for a $75,000 North American Wetland Conservation Act grant to help fund the purchase of the property.
However, Parker said that, “It’s not a slam-dunk that the land trust would find the funding.”
The Brunswick Town Council on Monday voted to write a letter in support of the grant and donate $1,000 toward the effort.
“It’s a great opportunity to finally secure a parcel the town has valued for its public access for quite some time,” said Steve Walker, a member of the council who works for the Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Executive Director Angela Twitchell told the council that her organization is working with the church to come to an agreed upon price for the land.
The trust is applying for other grants, including a Land for Maine’s Future grant.
jswinconeck@timesrecord.com
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
