PARKING ALONG Robinhood Road in Harpswell could be restricted to 17 spaces along the south side of the road, highlighted in yellow. No parking is allowed along Cedar Beach Road, highlighted in blue, which leads to Cedar Beach. Selectmen will discuss the matter tonight at 6 p.m.
Selectmen will schedule a public hearing to consider amendments to the Robinhood Road parking ordinance to conform with the newly acquired easement to Cedar Beach and Cedar Beach Island.
At the meeting tonight, the Harpswell Board of Selectmen will also sign a Special Town Meeting warrant to appropriate funds for the beach monitor position and signage required in the easement deed, and consider adoption of the selectmen’s goals and objective for 2014.
Currently, parking is permitted along the south- facing side of Robinhood Road per an ordinance dated July 2003. No parking is allowed down the north-facing side.
Town Administrator Kristi Eiane said that prior to the 2003 ordinance, “We had people parking on both sides and it was very difficult for traffic to flow through, so no parking was instituted on one side.”
With the town’s acceptance of the easement area leading to Cedar Beach, approved by voters at the March 15 Town Meeting, the current ordinance has to be amended to conform with the language in the easement deed.
A conceptual plan for parking on Robinhood Road has been prepared by Gorrill Palmer Consulting Engineers Inc., showing 17 potential parking spaces on Robinhood Road, which connects to Route 24 and Cedar Beach Road.
“The conceptual plan says there are only 17 parking spaces allowed, so we’ll have to limit parking on the (south) side of the road and create no parking zones,” said Eiane, adding that the no parking on the north side of the road will not change.
Three possible turnout areas have been identified on the north side of the road, said Eiane, though no construction is currently planned as the portion of Cedar Beach Road leading to the easement area is closed to the public.
Eiane said the selectmen haven’t recommended specific wording for the amendment, but the goal is to make it consistent with the wording in the easement deed.
The current parking ordinance states that a violation of the ordinance is punishable by a $50 fine, and is enforceable by the Board of Selectmen, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s department, a constable of the Town of Harpswell and other law enforcement agencies authorized to enforce parking ordinances.
Per the easement deed, the beach monitor also is also authorized to cause a vehicle in violation of the conditions of the easement to be ticketed, moved to a designated parking area or towed.
Selectmen are also slated to sign a warrant for a Special Town Meeting to take place June 10 for the town to vote to appropriate $4,000 for a beach monitor and $1,200 for signage from the unassigned fund balance.
A beach monitor is required in the conditions of the easement to monitor the easement area and designated parking area from July 1 through Labor Day each year.
The position has not yet been filled, said Eiane, but a few part-time employees of the town are being considered to fill the one position.
“We’re going to try to work with existing staff this summer to see if it can be covered that way,” said Eiane. “They’ll be responsible for going there at least once a day and filling in a log sheet detailing when they went and how many people were on the beach.”
Selectmen will also consider the adoption of their drafted goals and objectives for 2014, which include marketing and selling the West Harpswell School and the Hildreth Road properties; determining the future of the Mitchell Field water tower and public boat launch; and explore the possibility of contracting limited public transportation services to Harpswell.
The Board of Selectmen meeting will take place at 6 p.m. tonight at the Harpswell Town Office, located at 263 Mountain Road.
rgargiulo@timesrecord.com
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