AUGUSTA — A bill to extend Old Orchard Beach’s seaward boundary, has passed in the House, by a vote of 135 to 9.
“That’s pretty substantial,” said State Rep. George Hogan, D-Old Orchard Beach, sponsor of LD 1119.
Hogan first proposed legislation to move the boundary in early 2008. The effort arose in response to an effort in Saco to develop a marina offshore from Old Orchard Beach.
In the fall of 2007, the city of Saco, which has long claimed jurisdiction over the waters of Saco Bay, signed a lease agreement with a developer who proposed to create an off-shore marina just beyond The Pier.
“The right thing to do is to allow Old Orchard Beach to have jurisdiction of what lies in front of it,” said Hogan.
The bill was passed in the House Wednesday evening, on a surprise calendar item during a double legislative session. It now must be voted on in the Senate.
Hogan said he is unsure of how the bill will fare in the Senate, but for now, this “is very good news.” He said he has worked very hard so that the town can have a say on its waterfront.
Old Orchard Beach town planner Gary Lamb said the passage of the bill is important to the town because it would allow the town’s planning board and council to review any future development off the immediate shores of Old Orchard Beach.
Old Orchard Beach resident Gary Curtis, who is a member of a regional planning group that has done research on Saco Bay, said that the residents of Old Orchard Beach owe a lot to Hogan.
“I think he’s done a great public service for Old Orchard Beach,” he said.
The proposed bill is opposed by the City of Saco, which takes the position that the suggested legislation is an effort to annex Saco territory.
The town of Old Orchard Beach’s opinion is that Saco’s seaward boundary ends at low water mark, as municipal boundaries can only be moved seaward by an act of legislation. The proposed bill, say town officials, would extend the town boundary over state property.
Lamb said he thought the decisive vote Wednesday night was very telling of the strength of Hogan’s argument.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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