Editor:

    In addition to the obvious cost, safety, and liability issues, I see unimaginably complicated obstacles standing in the way of building a “recreation” path on Shore Road in Cape Elizabeth, including the ecological damage that the path will most certainly inflict. As examples, several species of birds and small animals nest in the low brush that borders the road and the pond on our property. In addition, the turtles that live in the pond lay their eggs faithfully every year in the shoulders of our driveway where it abuts Shore Road and in our garden which is parallel to the road. Three years ago we installed wooden bollards adjacent to our garden to protect the egg nests and keep cars from parking on the shoulder in which the nests are located. The proposed path would clearly impact bird and animal nesting, including the turtle egg nests.

   Twice in 15 years we have tried to improve the flow of water from the pond, under Shore Road and into Pond Cove. Both the DEP and the town denied our requests to build a simple rock rip-rap to stabilize the edge of the pond. We were told that he pond is part of a tidal waterfowl habitat with a 75 to 200 foot buffer, and is therefore “untouchable.” In building a two-mile long path, five feet wide with a five foot buffer, it will be exponentially more difficult for the town to live up to the same environmental sensitivity that it requires of its residents.

   This path is not a “done deal” and I urge Cape residents to learn all the implications of its proposed construction.

Jim McDonough

Cape Elizabeth