TownofCapeElizabethPaper Streets Public Workshops

February 1 and 3, 2018

DraftReportpreparedbyGoodGroupDecisions

98MaineStreet,Brunswick,Maine,04011207-729-5607www.GoodGroupDecisions.com

GoodGroupDecisions

Contents

AbouttheWorkshops......................................................................................................1PurposeandOverview..........................................................................................................................................1WelcomeandOpeningRemarks......................................................................................................................1Agenda..........................................................................................................................................................................2GroundRules.............................................................................................................................................................3DiscussionandCommentProcess...................................................................................................................4

PaperStreetsBasics.........................................................................................................4

February1Workshop.....................................................................................................6Themes.........................................................................................................................................................................6BrainstormedIdeas:OurInterests..................................................................................................................6DiscussionComments...........................................................................................................................................8

February3Workshop..................................................................................................10Themes......................................................................................................................................................................10BrainstormedIdeas:OurInterests...............................................................................................................10DiscussionComments........................................................................................................................................12

ClosingComments.........................................................................................................15ThisreportcoverstwoworkshopsthatwereheldonFebruary1andFebruary3,2018.Theagendas,groundrules,introductoryremarks,discussionprocess,andclosingremarkswerethesameateachworkshopandareorganizedtogetherinthisreport.Thethemes,brainstormedideas,anddiscussioncommentsarepresentedseparatelyforeachworkshop.

Town of Cape Elizabeth - Public Workshops on Paper Streets – February 1 and 3, 2018 1 Draft Workshop Report prepared by Good Group Decisions

About the Workshops Purpose and Overview TwopublicworkshopswereheldattheCapeElizabethTownCenterFireStationonThursday,February1,andSaturday,February3,2018.TheprimarypurposeoftheworkshopswasforpeopletodiscusstheissueofpaperstreetsinanewwayandtoprovideTownCouncilorswithnewinformationtohelpthemproceedintheverybestinterestsoftheTown.Theworkshopswerenotdesignedforone-waycommunicationofindividualviewsnorformediationintendedtoresultinresolution.Rathertheyweredesignedforfacilitateddiscussionamongresidentstohelppeopleunderstandeachother’sperspectives.Ideasforsolutionswereencouraged,butnodecisionsweremade.AnydecisionsonthismatterwillbemadebytheTownCouncilatalaterdate.Twoworkshopswereofferedtomaximizeconvenienceforthosewhowantedtoattend;thetwoworkshopshadidenticalagendas.41residentsattendedtheworkshoponThursday,February1,and43residentsattendedonSaturday,February3.Thisreportcoversbothworkshops.Welcome and Opening Remarks TownCouncilChairJessicaSullivanopenedtheworkshopswiththefollowingremarks:

• Welcome,thanksforcoming,itisgreattoseeyouhere• TheTownManagerandTownCouncilorsareheretolistenandlearn,not

participate• Wearenotheretodiscussactivelitigation• Yourinputishighlyvaluableonthismatter;atsomepointinfuturewewillbe

makingadecisionabouthowtomoveforward• Pleasebekindandcourteousandrespectful

FacilitatorCraigFreshleyexplainedabouthiscompanyandtheworkshopformat:

• GoodGroupDecisionshelpsallkindsofgroupsmakedecisions• Intheseworkshopsourpurposeistodiscussthistopicinanewwayandprovide

theCouncilwithnewinformation.TheCouncil’spathisnotpredetermined.Theywantthebestinformationavailablewhentheymakeadecision.

• Wearehereasfacilitatorstoprovideagoodstructure,agoodprocess• Thisisnotapublichearingoramediationwherewetrytoreachanagreement• Wemightseethemesinourdiscussionbutit’sokayifwedon’tfindcommonground

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• Ourpurposeistoheareachotherandit’sachancetoaskquestionsofeachother• Pleasekeepinmindtheconceptof“interestsoverpositions”

o Whenwecomeintoaconversationwithfirmlyestablishedpositions,weonlyhavewinnersandlosers

o Whenwesharewitheachotherourinterests–whyourpositionsaresoimportanttous,theunderlyingreasonsforwhatwewant–wehaveabetterchanceofmeetingourinterests

o Wewillhaveachancetoaskeachotherquestions–pleasebewillingtogobeyondjuststatingyourposition,bewillingtonameyourinterests

o WearetryinganewwaytohavethisconversationAgenda Feb1 Feb3Evening Morning7:00 10:00 Welcome

• TownCouncilChairJessicaSullivanwillopentheWorkshopandwelcomeparticipants.ShewillbrieflyexplainthesituationandthepurposefortheWorkshop.

• FacilitatorCraigFreshleywillexplaintheWorkshopformatandsomegroundrulestohelpushaveagooddiscussion.

7:10 10:10 OurUnderlyingInterests

• Firstinsmallgroupsandthenasafullgroupwewillidentifyourunderlyinginterests.

• Craigwillask:“Whyisthisissuesoimportanttoyou?Whatdoyouultimatelywanttogetoutofthis?Whatfundamentalneedordesiredoyouhavethatthisissuefeedsorthreatens?”

• Wewillshareanswerswitheachotheranddiscuss.8:00 11:00 EmergingThemes

• Aretherecommonalitiesamongourunderlyinginterests?Aretherecommonalitiesamongourconcerns?Dothethingswehaveheardsuggestanysolutions,orpartsofsolutions?

• Craigwillaskusthesequestions,blendouranswerswithhisownobservations,andperhapsidentifyemergingthemes.

8:20 11:20 ClosingComments

• ThisisachanceforsomebrieflastcommentsfromparticipantsandaconcludingremarkfromtheTownCouncilChair.

8:30 11:30 Adjourn

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Ground Rules FacilitatorCraigFreshleyexplainedthefollowinggroundrulestohelpparticipantshaveagooddiscussion.• Allviewsheard

o LetCraigcallonpeople§ Wewanttohearfromeveryone.Ifahandgoesupfromsomeonewe

haven’theardfromyet,Imightcallonthatpersonevenifsomeonewho’salreadyspokeniswaitingtospeakagain.

§ Nooneisrequiredtospeako Speakwithrespect

§ It’snotaboutpersuadingeachotheraboutrightandwrong,it’sabouttryingtounderstandeachother

• Speakforyourselfo Ifyoutrytospeakforsomeonenothereorifyousay“thisgroupofpeoplethinks

XorY,”wecan’taskthemdirectlyaboutito Ifyouspeakforyourselfyouareonsolidground.Telluswhatit’slikefromyour

perspective.• Showwhatyouthink

o Giveathumbs-uporthumbs-down,smileandnodo Whengroupsdothisitcanbeveryefficient-ithelpsusseequicklywhat

everyonethinks• Listentounderstand

o Youmayhavecomewithsomethingreadytosay,butwehopeyoulistentoyourneighborsandtrytounderstandwhatit’slikeforthatperson

o TownCouncilorsarelisteningandobserving• Readytomove

o Wearegoingtogetupandchangetableso Also,beopenminded–be“readytomove”intellectuallyandphilosophically,be

preparedtochangeyourthinkingonthistopic• Themesnowandlater

o Ifthereareanythemesthatemergeduringthemeetingswewillnamethemo Wewillalsoprepareareportofthesemeetings

• Neutralfacilitationandnoteso Weareservingasneutralfacilitatorsandrecorders-wedon’thaveaviewon

whatthetownshoulddo.Wearejustheretohelpyouhaveagoodconversation.

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Discussion and Comment Process Ateachworkshop,facilitatorCraigFreshleyaskedparticipantstobreakintosmallgroupsaccordingtotheiropiniononwhatthetownshoulddoaboutpaperstreets.Theoptionsregardingopinionswere:

• Maintain:Donothingfornow.Reservetherighttoacceptorvacateinthefuture.• Accept:HandlethepaperstreetsaspublicwaysownedbytheTown.• Vacate:LetgoofTownclaimstothepaperstreets.

Next,insmallgroupsattables,participantsdiscussedthefollowingquestions:

• Whatisyourunderlyinginteresthere?• Whatdoyouultimatelywanttogetoutofthis?• Whatfundamentalneedordesiredoyouhavethatthisissuefeedsorthreatens?• Whyisthisissuesoimportanttoyou?

Craigexplainedthequestionswiththefollowingremarks:

o Youareallowedtochangeyourmindlatero Consider:Whatisyourguttellingyoutodo?o Wouldnotaskyoutobreakintogroupsifthiswasthefirstmeetingonthis

topic,butyouhavebeenworkingonthisawhileandpeopleprobablyknowhowtheyfeel

o Regardingthequestion,“Whatdoyouwanttogetoutofthis?”,“this”referstothecontroversyaboutthesetwopaperstreetsandtheresolutionthatisultimatelyreached

Participantswrotetheiranswerstothequestionsonpaper.Ideaswerecollected,organizedonthewall,anddiscussedasafullgroup.Paper Streets Basics AteachworkshopfacilitatorCraigFreshleyreadaloudthefollowing:

Re:DraftPaperStreets“SummaryofInformation”forreviewbyDurwoodParkinsoninadvanceofatowncouncilworkshoponJanuary17,2018PaperStreetsSurfsideAvenue,AtlanticPlaceandLighthousePointRoad

1) Paperstreetsareestablishedwhensubdivisionsarerecordedandthestreetsshownarenotbuiltupon.

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2) ThepaperstreetscurrentlyreferredtoasSurfsideAvenueandAtlanticPlacewererecordedin1911aspartoftheShoreAcressubdivision.

3) LighthousePointwasrecordedin1968aspartofasubdivision.4) In1997theTownofCapeElizabethextendeditsrightsofaccesstoalmostall

paperstreets,includingSurfsideAvenue,AtlanticPlace,andLighthousePointRoadfor20years.

5) In2016theTownofCapeElizabethagainextendeditsrightsofaccesstoSurfsideAvenue,AtlanticPlace,andLighthousePointRoadforanother20years.

6) SurfsideAvenue,AtlanticPlace,andLighthousePointRoadareincludedinthetown’sgreenbeltplanaspotentialgreenbelttrails.

ParticipantsaskedthefollowingclarifyingquestionsandTownManagerMattSturgisprovidedanswersasfollows:

• Question(Feb.1):IsTwoLightspartofthisforum?IhadanimpressionthatthisfacilitatedmeetingwasfocusedonShoreAcres.

o Response:AmotionwasmadebytheCounciltohireafacilitatortoaddressShoreAcres.TheLighthousePointstreetwasnotpartofthemotion.ThismeetingisfocusedmoreonSurfsideAvenueandAtlanticPlace.

• Question(Feb.3):IsthisprocessonlyforthetwostreetsinShoreAcres?Doesthis

includeLighthousePointRoad?o Response:ThemotionthattheCouncilmadeandapprovedwastohavethis

sessionmostlyfocusonShoreAcres,SurfsideAvenueandAtlanticPlace.ThevoteregardingLighthousePointwastomaintainfornow.

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February 1 Workshop Themes FacilitatorCraigFreshleyproposedthefollowingthemesasaresultofthediscussion:

• CommonInterests(overlappingtwoormore“groups”)o Peaceandharmonyo Long-termstabilityo Shorelineaccesso Safety

• PrimaryTension

o Increasedshorelineaccessvs.backyardprivacyandsecurityBrainstormed Ideas: Our Interests Thefollowingideaswerewrittenbyparticipantsinsmallgroupsandorganizedonthewall:

• Maintaino Timetocreateasenseofcommunityo Harmonyintheneighborhoodo Dowhat’sbestforfuturegenerations

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• Accept

o Rightthingistoshare-communitybuildingbigo Identity

§ Whoweare§ Inclusive§ ComprehensivePlan

o MaintainComprehensivePlanre:openspace,increaseviewso Cape’sidentityas“Maine”,notaclosedenclaveo Vacatingsetsaprecedento Setagoodprecedenttoactinbestinterestofthecitizenso Securesandprotectspropertyrightso Acceptsoitdoesn’tfestero StopharassmentofwalkersonSS/APo Security–1911–same

§ Structuresviolatemysecurityo Preserveshorelineaccesso Keepdeededandimpliedaccesso Preservepublicanddeeded/impliedaccesstovaluabletownassetso Publicaccesso Accesstooceanfront,views,nature–moreisbettero Long-termstabilityprovidedbygovernmentownershipo Threatenedlossofdeededlegalrights–acceptanceprotectsrightso Governance

§ Forthepeople–1220petitionsignatures§ Don’tgovernbyfear

• Vacate

o Preservebackyardprivacyandsecurityo Ifyouwouldn’twantatrailliketheonebeingproposedyoushouldn’task

otherstohavethistypeofintrusivetrailinyourbackyardo Stopharassmentofpropertyowners–paperstreetsarenotpublico Shorelineaccesso 50%ofshorelineinS.A.isalreadypublicorquasi-publicaccesso Preservesmallneighborhoodnatureo Rebuildcommunityandpeaceo Safestreetso Cantownsupportpublicpath

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Discussion Comments • Pleasenotethatthereareseveralpeoplewhoarenotherebecausetheyareinvolvedin

activelitigationandlownumbersforthe“vacate”opinionshouldn’tbetakenaslowinterest

• “Bestinterestofcitizens”isabouttheinterestofthecommunityasawhole• Therearealternativetrails-Iseetheshorelinesaccessinterestbeingmetinother

ways.Wealreadyhaveshorelineaccessandwedon’tneedmoreattheexpenseoflandowners.

• Maintaininggivesustimetothinkaboutwhat’sbestforthefuture• Deedschangehands,peoplecomeandgo,butthegovernmenttakingownership

provideslongertermstabilityandcomfortforthepeopleintheneighborhood• Don’tgovernbyfear.Therewasapetitionwith1220signaturesfromthecommunity.

That’sthewillofthepeople.WouldliketheTownCouncilnottobefearfuloflitigationandgovernforallthepeople.

• Questionforthosewhosupport“vacate”:Areyouopentopublicaccessonthegravelroad?Isthatalreadyapaperstreet?

o Response:Surfsidehastwopieces-onepartisparalleltoPilotPoint.ThegravelpartisownedbyOceanviewAssociates.Manyownershaveoffereddeededrightstoanyoneinneighborhoodwhoaskedforthem.

• ClarificationsfromMattSturgis:o Ifyouliveintheneighborhoodyouhaveincipientrightstousethepaperstreeto Ifthetownhasn’tmadeadecisiontoacceptorvacate,thetownneedstotake

actiononthat.It’ssimilartoadeveloper’sproposal:whenpresentedwithaproposalthetownhastotakeanaction.

o Ifthetown“Accepts”,thetownwouldaccepttherighttoowntherightofway,nottheland

o Ifthetownaccepts,thenthepaperstreetbecomespublic• Wehavewalkedinthatareafor20yearsandhavebeenspatat,harassed-thatwon’t

stop.Astaxpayerswepayforthisland.• Everythinghasbeenthesameonthislandsince1911,exceptthestructuresthathave

beenputthere.That’sthepartthathaschanged.Thathasthreatenedmysecurity.• Fearthatifthetownvacatesthepaperstreetsitwilljeopardizetherightsofthosewho

havedeededrightstoaccesstheland.Thelegalissuessurroundingthosedeededrightsaresquishy,andvacatingputseveryoneelse’spropertyrightsinjeopardy.

• Accessshouldnotbeonlytothosewithdeededrights-weALLdeserveaccess• Shoreaccessseemstobeabigtheme-weallunderstandandlovethat• Thethemesofpeace/harmonyandshorelineaccessmakesense.Thethemesabout

security,stability,andsafetycanbereadindifferentways.• Iunderstandaboutsafetyandhousescomingclosertotheshoreline.ConsidertheCliff

WalkatProutsNeck.Wedon’thearaboutsafetyandsecuritythere,andthoseareveryexpensiveproperties.Wouldliketoknowaboutthosestatistics.

o Concerns:

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§ Wouldwonderaboutadequatespace/buffering§ WouldbeconcernedabouthowclosealltheShoreAcrespropertyis

• Wouldyouwantthepublicgoingpastyourhouse?Therearelotsofwayswecancometogetherasacommunityatotherplaces.

• Therearelotsoftownswhohavehousesonthewaterandshorepaths,andtheyusehedges,landscaping,etc.asdelineationaboutwheretheprivatelandendsandthetrailbegins.Therearesolutionstoprovideprivacy.Thisisawidearea.

• EncourageustolookatProutsNeck• IamusedtoMainerssharingandtakingcareofeachother• Shorelineandaccesstoitisnotincreasing–townshouldhaverightofway• Ihopedthatwemightagreeonsomefacts.It’suncomfortablewhenonepersonclaims

onethingandsomeoneelseclaimsanother.Iwashopingforfact-findingtonightratherthanopinionsandinterests.Iwantanopportunityforpeopletohearthefacts.

o UnderstandthatthelawsuitistodecidewhoownsSurfsideAvenue,sothatwillbefactfindingviathecourt,butinsteadIwishwecouldsitdownandcometoconsensusonwhat’strue.

• Washopingthattherecouldbeacommitteeofinterestedpartiesonallsidestositdownatthetableandlookforcompromisesolutions.Askpeopletohaveanopenmindtotalkaboutsolutions.SubmitideastotheTownCouncil.PerhapsaskforresourcesfromtheConservationCommitteetomakethingssafer.

• Questionforthosewhosupport“vacate”:What’sasafedistancefromapublicaccessroad?Ifadistancewasproposed,what’sanumberwhereyouwouldfeelcomfortable?

o Response:Don’tknowanexactdistance,butIusedtoliveinahousewithagreenbelttrailalongside,anditwasneverproblem.Whatisdifferentaboutthissituationisthattheproposedtrailwouldrunrightthroughexistingbackyards.Don’tknowanyotherplaceinCapewhereyouhaveatrailgoingthatclosetopeople’syards.Agreethatmaybeformerownersshouldnothavebuiltstructurestherebuttheydidandwearestuckwithwhatwehavenow.

• IhaveapaperstreetasapropertyborderandpeopleuseitandIhaveneverconsideredsecurityasamajorconcern

• WhenweplannedtheShoreRoadPathweaskedwhatitwouldlooklike,wherewoulditbe,wemarkeditout.Itmightbeusefulinthiscasetoaskaboutlandscaping,buffers,andfencessoeveryonewouldhaveabetterappreciationofwhatitwouldlooklike.Thismightleadtolessfear.ThiswashelpfulfortheShoreRoadPathespeciallyaroundPondCove.

o Doanartistrendering–workwithatownplanner,alandscapearchitect,figureoutplacementofbushes,fences-woulddoalottodissipatefears.

• Onthepremisethattownhadvacated,abutterstooktheirneighborstocourt.Theyfelttheyhadnochoiceandhadtofightfortheirrights.Whenyouhearabutterssaytheywillgivedeededaccess,it’shardtotrustthatwhenyouhavebeentakentocourt.Thisisverypainful.Themajorityofthepeopleintheneighborhoodareveryinclusiveandwelcoming.It’shardtotrytocreateexclusivitywherenoneexisted.Peoplesayit’stheirbackyardbutit’snot;deedsdonotgototheAtlanticOcean.

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FacilitatorCraigFreshleyproposedthissummaryofideasforapproachesgoingforward:o Getagreementonthefactso Askasubgroupofstakeholderstocometoacompromiseonsolutionso Doanartistrenderingofwhatitwouldlooklike,tohelpdissipatefears

February 3 Workshop Themes Craigproposedthefollowingthemesasaresultofthediscussion:

• Senseofcommunity• Safety• Lesscontroversy

Brainstormed Ideas: Our Interests Thefollowingideaswerewrittenbyparticipantsinsmallgroupsandorganizedonthewall:

• Maintaino Neighborhoodharmonyo Deededrightsmaintainedo Preservationofoceanviews

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• Accepto Equityforallcitizenstoatownresourceo 1.Optionstonearbycovesandocean.2.Communityvaluesareshared

utilizationofresources.3.Don’tlimitaccesstothefewo Fullaccesstotheocean–allresidentsshouldhaveaccess,notjustthosewho

canaffordtobuythereo Townhasarightofwaynowtoshorelineaccessforallcitizens

§ Keepit§ Valuable§ Publicstewardship

o 1.Recreationalaccess2.Philosophicalsupportofpubliccontinuationofmunicipallyownedrecreationalproperty3.Philosophicalaversiontocommercialpropertyuse-ownershipofastateresource

o Precedento Potentialtouse“vacate”asprecedentforvacatingrightstootherstreetso Accesstoshoreforfuture–precedent–resolvethislong-standingissueo TrustinT.C.toactinthebestinterestso Maintaincommunityo Moreshorelineaccessisbetter.Communitybuildingconnectingus.Financial.o StaytruetotheComprehensivePlano Stopharassmento Walkwithoutharassmentorphysicalbarrierso Protecttownresourceo Ensureaccessforfuturegenerationso Preserveopenspaceforthepublico Publicaccess–don’twantshoreclosedoff.Upanddowncoastit’shappening

everywhere–Iwantitopenandprotectedforfuturegenerations• Vacate

o Safety/security§ Parking§ Traffic§ Kids

o Safetyo Logisticsandburdenso Propertyvalueso Hardworkingfamilieslosingvalueofhomeo Privacy/Propertyrightso Existingshorelineaccesso Townbudgetimpact–limited$o Enviro.Impact

§ Trash§ “Buildtomakesafe”

o Maintaincommunityo Fairness

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Discussion Comments • GrewuponSurfside,spentmyyouthonabikethere,aquintessentialchildhood,biking

aroundShoreAcreswithnosupervision.• Ifweacceptthispublicway,it’sallofthecountrywhocouldhavesaccesstothe

shorelinehere.PeoplecanalreadyuseFortWilliamsandthelobstershack–there’sparkingandrestrooms.Wearetryingtobuildmorepublicaccessinanunsafeplace.

• Questionforthosewhosupport“vacate”:DoyouwanttopreservethatquintessentialAmericanlifestyleonlyforcertainpeoplewithwealth?

o Response:ThegroupthatownsSurfsideAvenuewillgiverightstowalktheretoanyonewhobuysahomethere.Therearetwosectionsthatpeoplewalk.IfyouliveinShoreAcresnooneisstoppingyoufromwalkingonSurfsideAvenue.

• Wanttomaintainharmonythatwasintheneighborhoodbeforeitbecamecontentions.Usedtogotoneighborhoodpartiesthatwerecrowdedandjoyous,likebeinginaFrankCapramovie.Nowthathasdwindledandpeopledon’tsayhelloanymore.Wouldbenicetohavethatback.

• Ihavenevertoldanyonetheycouldn’twalkthere• IfthetownvacatesIfearthatpeoplemightsay“Youcan’tcomeoverherefromBroad

Cove”.Ihavebeenaccusedof“comingoverfromBroadCove”.• Concernthatifwevacate,thiscouldbeusedasprecedentinthefuture• Thisisnotjustaboutpaperstreets-wanttoextendtheconcernofpublicaccesstoall

shorelineaccess• Wealreadyhavelotsofaccessibleshoreline,evenlandthatisprivatelyowned.Wehave

shorelineusedbyourneighborhoodaswellasothersformanyyears.Itfeelslikepeoplearesaying“wehavenoshorelineaccessinourneighborhood”butwedo.

o Theextensionofthisroadis1200feet-that’swhatwearetalkingabout–thebackyardsofsixhouses

• ItisimportantthatCapeElizabethisawelcomingcommunitywithpublicshorelineaccessforall.WehavegreatpublicresourceslikeFortWilliamsandRobinsonWoods,wherepeopleactcivillyandresponsibly.

• Environmentalimpact:Concernedabouthavinglotsofpeoplewalkingonapath,orevenjustbuildingapathitself.“Saveourshores”meanssomethingoppositeofpublicaccesstome.Iseetrashandgarbageinotherpublicplaces.

• Concernaboutmaintenancecostsofapublicroad.Currentlyhomeownersmaintaintheroad.Shouldwebespendingmoneytobuilda1200ft.extensionwhenourschoolsneedinvestment?

• ForpeoplewholiveinShoreAcresyouhavedeededrightstowalkonthesepaths.Myinterestisprotectingpublicaccessforallcitizenstoshare.TheintentofShoreAcreswasthatthiswastobeshared.

• It’sworth$50,000toapropertyvaluetohavethedeededrightstowalkthere.Therewasapropertyforsaleintheneighborhoodandthesignsaid“DeededAccess”

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• Wanttoensureaccessforfuturegenerationssothatwearenotdoingthisevery10-20years

• Wanttobuildthenextgenerationofstewardsandmaintainprotectionofoverallshorelinenotjustofcertainproperties

• Scarboroughmanagedtoworkthingsoutandfindresolution.ThereismoreworktobedonetoreachaviablecompromiseonallofSurfside.

• Believethatapathcouldbeconstructedthatwouldpreservetheviewsforeveryonewithoutintrudingonthepeoplewholivethere.

• Don’twantcontroversyfor20years;wantanopportunitytofindaresolution• Thesovereigntystatutetellsuswhatweownandwheretheboundariesare.TheState

ownsfromtheheadofthetideouttothecontinentalshelf.Wearebeingsuedbywealthyfamiliestostopaccesstothetidalzone.

• Ourneighborhoodisone-way-inandone-way-out.Therearenosidewalks.Peoplewalkinthestreet.TherehasbeencollegialityamongneighborsandIamconcernedabouttheburdenontheneighborhoodifthetown“Accepts”.Willloseabilitytobesafeonstreetswithbikes.

• Concernedaboutcosttosafetyservicesifthisbecomesapublicway• Fearofreductionofpropertyvaluesifthisbecomesapublicway• Appreciatehearinghatweallhavefundamentalbeliefinmaintainingcommunity.That

couldbetrueineverycategory–maintain,accept,orvacate.• ThepeoplewhoownPilotPointandSurfsideAvenue-thesearehardworkingpeople

whobuilttheirownwealth,nottrustfundpeople.Icanfindwaystowalkandenjoytheviewwithoutdisruptingothers’propertyvalues.

• Itisnotunreasonabletopurchaseapropertyandexpectthatitwillremainasis.Thisissomethingthatthestateshouldaddress.Iffeelsveryunfairthatthetownisnowexpressinginterestinthesepropertiesafter100yearsofitbeingthesame.

• Whatifbothsidessawtheareamarkedoffwithorangeribbonsandsketchesoflandscapebuffersdevelopedtorespectallofeveryone’sinterests.Walkalongthepropertywithalandscapearchitect–thismightshedlightonplansandhelpbothsides.

• Ifeelthatforthefamiliesinvolved,thebestinterestistheequityfactorraised• IunderstandabouttrafficintoShoreAcres.It’snotjustpeoplevisitingthere,it’splows,

contractors,etc.IappreciatethatbeingraisedandIfeelthereisawaytoworkthroughsomeofthat-itdoesn’tneedtobeallornothing.Wecangiveaccessandequitywithouthavinganincreasedimpactontraffic.

• Let’slookatthemodeloftheProutsNeckShoreAssociation.ThereisnootherplaceinMainethatmighthavesuchagoodargumentforclosingoffaccess,buttheywanttoofferthepath.Don’tknowifit’sprivatelandortownland,butthereisnoextratrafficbecausethereisnoparking.Ifwelookatthatitmighthelpprovideinformationforoursituation.

• Increasedtrafficisabogusargument.TrundyPointbeachistheonlyshorelineaccessbetweenPondCoveandTwoLights.Thereisverylittletraffic.

• Whatkingoflegacydoyouwanttoleave?Atownthathandsoveraviablefiniteresourceorstandsupforegalitarianideals?CapeElizabethhasareputationforbeingaplacewherepeoplebullyotherstogetmore.

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o Ifyoubuyahousenexttoafootballstadiumdon’tgetupsetaboutthenoise,it’sforthepublicgood.ThePilotPointpeoplewantextra.It’swealthwithoutgenerosity.Pleasedropthelawsuit.Don’twasteourtaxpayermoneyonthis.

o Justbecauseyouputagazeboonapaperstreetdoesn’tmakeityourso Wearejuststewardsofthistownandweareonlypassingthough.Don’twantto

bebulliedbyinfantswithlawyers.• Thisisawonderfulcommunity.IamanabutteronapathinBrentwoodandIenjoyit.I

appreciatethetrailsanddon’tseelitter.WhenIboughttheproperty,Iknewtherewasastreetthere.Idon’tbelievetheargumentsaboutsafetyandpropertyvalues

• Ifeelthetownacceptedtheseasstreetsin1911andwehavelostrevenuebygivingpropertytaxdiscounts.It’stimeforthetowntosaythatthisisaresourceofCapeElizabeth.

• Nobodywantssomethingtakenawayfromthemthattheylove.Movedherebecauseofthecommunity.Ifwe“Vacate”IamafraidthattheShoreAcresneighborhoodwon’tbeabletoaccessthisland;afraiditwillbelimitedtojustafew.

• Wealreadyhavesafetyandsecurityasitis.Weneedtobegoodstewards.• Weallneedtocompromise.Iamonthetraileverydayandneverseeanyonethere–the

fearisworsethanthethingitself.Hopewedon’tloseoursenseofcommunity.• Questionforthosewhosupport“vacate”:Iftherewasaccesstoatrail,evenunmarked,

wouldthatbeacceptable?o Response:Whatistheproblemwiththestatusquo?

• Noproblemwiththestatusquobutthetown’shandsaretiedandIamafraidthatwewillbesittingheredoingthisagain.Weareworried.It’saffectingsaleofhomes.Let’sfindasolution.

• Ibuiltapathandyouuseit-thewholeneighborhoodusesit.Wemakeitaccessible.Forthepathwearetalkingabout,thepeoplewhopurchasedthatpropertydidsowithnounderstandingthatthiswasgoingtobecomeapublicpath.

• Whatisascenariothatworks?Theneighborhoodcanusethelandastheyhavedoneforthelast100years.SurfsideAvenueisalreadythereanddoesn’tneedtobemaintained.What’smatterwiththestatusquo?

• Concernaboutstatusquo:Itisn’tcutanddry.Rightnowthetownhasdecidedtoholdtherighttoacceptthepaperstreetsforanother20years,justlikethelast100years.Iwonderwhathappenedtocausesomepeopletobringasuittochangethestatusquo?

• Awaytoresolvethisistogetthetownoutofthemiddle.ThepeoplefromShoreAcreshaveaccessandwedon’twanttocreateaccessforthewholeworld.Ijustdon’tunderstandtheproblem.

• Ilikethestatusquo,personally,butwantittobeguaranteed.Someonemightmoveinwhowouldblockaccess.

• Whatisthestatusquo–likewhenchildrensafelyplayedbehindhouses,ornow,whenneighborsgothere?Inoneyear5homesontheshoreweretorndownandreplaced.Somepeopleinthelawsuitarenotyear-roundresidents.

• Someofyouhaveusedthepathonmyproperty,whichisownedprivatelyby5neighbors.Weenjoyseeingpeoplecomethrough.

Town of Cape Elizabeth - Public Workshops on Paper Streets – February 1 and 3, 2018 15 Draft Workshop Report prepared by Good Group Decisions

• Whenmovedherewewerewelcomedontheshoreline.Iwouldbehappywithmytrailbeingmyownbuthavebecomeasupporterofitbecomingatowntrailbecauseothersaresoanxioustonothavepeopleontheirproperty.

• WeloveCapeElizabethandhavelivedinShoreAcresfor16years.Itbreaksourheartsthatwearesodivisive.Wedohavetoaddressthefactthattherearelawsuitsonallsides-backandforth.Wehavelostfriendsonbothsides.It’sbeencontentions.Iwasformaintainingforalongtimebutamnowconcernedaboutthis.

• Oneareawhereweagreeisthatwedon’twantlotsoftrafficintheneighborhood.Theacceptedtraildoesnothavetobepartofagreenbeltplan.Iwouldliketoproposeapath45-145feetawayfrompropertylines.Thatfeelsreasonable.

Closing Comments AttheendofeachworkshopTownCouncilChairJessicaSullivanofferedthefollowingconcludingremarks:

• OnbehalfoftheCouncil,thanksforcoming• Thanksforspeakingup• Itwasterrifictohearmanydifferentviews• Iamdelightedthatwehadverydiverseviewsandopinionshere