By David Harry

Staff Writer

A walk in the woods could become lengthier in Cape Elizabeth with approval of partial  funding for Cape Elizabeth Land Trust’s purchase of land next to Robinson Woods.

Town councilors unanimously agreed Monday to use $350,000 in municipal money as part of the $1.1 million price for 63 acres of wooded land that adjoins the 79-acre land trust preserve on Shore Road known as Robinson Woods II. 

Council action allows Town Manager Michael McGovern to refinance $1.9 million of municipal bonds, allocate $150,000 from the town land acquisition fund seek $200,000 in bonds that could be used to buy what is known as Robinson Woods II.

McGovern said refinancing the $1.9 million in outstanding bonds issued in 2001 could save the town about $240,000 because of reduced interest rates. He estimated the interest rate on the outstanding bond could be decreased from the current 4.5 percent to 2.5 percent.

The anticipated $200,000 savings could be used to pay for new bonds for the land trust purchase.

Land Trust Executive Director Chris Franklin said the $1.1 million option to buy 63 acres from Robinson Family LLC was signed in May. The purchase also is contingent on a $370,000 grant from the state Land for Maine’s Future bond fund.

Franklin said he expects to learn about the state grant next month.

“It is Christmas morning around here,” and shows how committed town officials are about preserving open spaces, he said after the council vote.

“We are both interested in preservation, this amplifies the importance,” Franklin said.

If the sale falls through, the bond money would become part of the land acquisition fund, according to the council motion.

An amendment to the $200,000 bond motion by Councilor Anne Swift-Kayatta reopens discussions on how the Shore Road Path will pass through Robinson Woods.

Swift-Kayatta said constructing the path to pass through the preserve as opposed to directly next to Shore Road might save $75,000 in construction costs and retain the rural feel of the road as it passes the woods.

Councilor Jessica Sullivan, who said she had reservations about using bonds to purchase land, supported Swift-Kayatta’s motion because it might reduce the cost of path construction, estimated to be about $1.03 million. 

Funding to help buy Robinson Woods is not contingent on changing the route of Shore Road Path and Franklin said he had not had time to consider the council request.

Spurwink Avenue resident Bill Enman said he saw little logic in using town money for the land acquisition.

“I do not understand spending $350,000 when we are scrimping on other things. The more that goes into (the land) trust, the more our taxes go up,” he said.

Enman told councilors he would not use the land and did not know many people who would, but residents Robert Williams and Ingrid Stressenger disagreed.

Williams said he praises the town daily when he uses the woods and said the additional parcel “fits perfectly like two jigsaw puzzle pieces.”

Stressenger, a fourth-grade teacher at Pond Cove Elementary School, said the acquisition will allow students additional opportunities to learn about natural science because of varied ecosystems and habitats in the 63 acres.

Franklin said the parcel fits the land trust mission because it is land that can be widely used and helps complete the town greenbelt system of open spaces for recreation.

“This really represents land that is most important to us,” he said.

Staff Writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219.