From: 	Ethan Croce <ecroce@town.falmouth.me.us>
To:	'Jean Fraser' <JF@portlandmaine.gov>
Date: 	2/12/2013 11:37 AM
Subject: 	RE: Update RE: Old Barn Estates Subdivision
Attachments:	TPO Properties_Feb 2013.pdf; The Ledges_Subdivision Plan_2008.pdf

Jean,

The minutes from the meeting are not prepared until just prior to the next Board meeting, but I will try to summarize the discussion that occurred relative to your issues below.

Lighting
The Board was fine with allowing the applicant to utilize the existing CMP cobra light fixture at the intersection of Ledgewood/Slocum to illuminate the Ledgewood/Ice Pond Drive intersection.  The Board was OK with the applicant’s proposal to place just one additional light at the hammerhead turnaround since this is consistent with the lighting treatment for other Falmouth subdivisions in the area.

Curb/sidewalk waiver
The Board was comfortable with the design presented (curb/sidewalk on one side of the street) but is ultimately deferring design of these aspects to Portland since it has been represented that the City will be accepting the street.

Connectivity
The plans submitted by the applicant showed the street right of way extending to the property line.  The applicant, however, presented revised plans to the Board on the night of the meeting showing the street right of way stopping short of the property line with the fee to this area now owned by Lots 8 and 9.  Staff inquired as to the possibility of providing a paper street to the property line instead.  Mr. Biegel represented that Portland would require the street to be paved if a right of way were extended to the property line.  The applicant confirmed that there would, however, be an easement off the end of the street right of way that would provide a connection to the Land Trust property.  One Board member was concerned with the proposed arrangement to allow the fee to Lots 8 and 9 to “block” access to the Land Trust Land and asked whether the applicant had explored deeding the area of land between the end of the street right of way and the Land Trust property to the Land Trust to better ensure that the trail extension would be maintained in perpetuity and would be better recognized as being a public use area and not private property.  The applicant stated that the formerly-proposed gravel trail would now be a paved sidewalk extending to the Land Trust property line.    The Board was comfortable with the plan of providing an easement to the property line in conjunction with paving the sidewalk to the property line.

Conservation Easement
I cannot readily locate a copy of the conservation easement associated with the abutting Ledges Subdivision, however, it is recorded at 26108/122.  In the easement, you will see reference to “Open Space F”.  That is the specific parcel of open space which abuts the developer’s land and the parcel over which the proposed trail connection is to be located.  (See attached Subdivision Plan)

Regards,
Ethan

Ethan J. Croce
Senior Planner
Town of Falmouth
271 Falmouth Road
Falmouth, ME 04105
(207) 781-5253  x-5328