About a decade after its landmark purchase of the 80-acre Robinson Woods property, the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust has an option to buy an adjacent 63-acre parcel that’s similarly prized for its wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.

Called Robinson Woods II, the parcel is essentially a large rectangle that runs southwest from the original Robinson Woods property off Shore Road.

The option to buy gives the land trust a window of time to raise $1.1 million for the purchase from Robinson Family LLC.

Land Trust Executive Director Chris Franklin would not specify the time frame, but he said it allows plenty of leeway for the group to raise money.

“It’s still very early for us,” Franklin said Wednesday. “We’re trying to get some of the big funding pieces in place before we get to a broader campaign.”

On June 13, the Town Council is expected to vote on a proposed $350,000 contribution to the land trust. About $150,000 of that would come from the town’s land acquisition fund, and about $200,000 would come from savings the town would achieve by refinancing some municipal debt that is 10 years old. The town would receive a public access easement over the land trust property.

Franklin also has applied for funding from the state’s Land for Maine’s Future program. A decision on that application is expected in July.

“We’ll have to see where we are at later this summer,” Franklin said. “This is the early stage of a very exciting project that we hope to be working on for years to come.

“It is a perfect complement to Robinson Woods, which has the vernal pools and ancient trees,” he said.

The parcel has about 12 acres of open fields and five acres of ponds, and includes habitat for the endangered New England Cottontail rabbit and the spotted turtle, which is on Maine’s list of threatened species. Like Robinson Woods, the new acreage would be open for non-motorized public use.

The acquisition would also move the town much closer to the goal of a cross-town trail, which was first outlined about 35 years ago. The plan is to link Fort Williams in the north to Kettle Cove and Crescent Beach State Park in the south, via town center and Great Pond.

“This is the last significant large piece that’s missing,” said Town Manager Michael McGovern. “It doesn’t quite fully connect, but it puts it within reach.”

McGovern said open space preservation is one of the top goals of the town’s comprehensive plan.

“Certainly 63 acres is a very significant parcel in Cape Elizabeth,” McGovern said, noting the 90-acre size of nearby Fort Williams Park.

Staff Writer Trevor Maxwell can be contacted at 791-6451 or at tmaxwell@pressherald.com

Copy the Story Link