Much debate has occurred about public access to the water here in Brunswick and why we need to possibly add 946 Mere Point for public access.

First, we have Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, a 124 acre site that is owned by Brunswick and the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust ( BTLT). The land has over a mile of saltwater frontage on the bay. Next, is Chase Reserve, which is 194 acres and also overlooking Maquoit Bay with over 1500 feet of water frontage. The BTLT has a conservation easement at Chase Reserve. In addition, there is a conservation easement which will help protect 54 acres of what the Maine Coast Heritage Trust ( MCHT) considers “ significant wildlife habitat” along Maquoit Bay. This property includes 2,000 feet of tidal frontage and the MCHT said the easement will also help maintain the health of the bay’s mud flats. These three sites alone total 372 acres on Maquoit Bay.

Brunswick residents have been told by a Town official that the town only has 1000 feet of water frontage. With the three properties listed above, there are almost 9,000 feet of waterfront access just on Maquoit Bay. Angela Twitchell, Executive Director of the BTLT, said these bring the total amount of conserved land along Maquoit Bay to almost 1,000 acres.

So if the town currently has almost 1000 acres conserved on Maquoit Bay with close to 9000 feet of water frontage, why do we need a small 4 acre parcel in the middle of a residential neighborhood? Every activity being brought forward as far as public use (swimming, walking, hiking, picnics, kayaking, clamming) for 946 Mere Point can be done at the 124 acre site. Other sites like Wharton Point Landing or the Mere Point Boat Launch can also handle a number of these activities.

Further, as stated in an article by The Trust for Public Land, “The Maquoit Bay property boasts three freshwater streams, a unique rocky promontory that provides spectacular views of Casco Bay and its islands, and swimming access to the warm shallow bay. With over a mile of trails for walking and cross-country skiing, and potential canoe and kayak access to Maquoit Bay and Casco Bay, this property has great recreational value to the town. It provides important habitat for migrating and nesting shorebirds, and in addition supports commercial clamming.”

All property owners are facing a 3.49 percent tax increase, well above the cost of inflation or the CPI. Taking yet another property off the tax rolls would be a further hike in our property taxes.

The only logical and fiscally responsible decision would be to return this property to the tax rolls and generate probably $10,000 a year in property taxes going forward. On the one hand, we have 1000 acres conserved on Maquoit Bay with town owned land that can meet any, and all of the recreational desires that have been discussed over the past 60 days. Let’s utilize the assets we already have access to for the benefit of all residents in the town. And let’s not penalize our residents by raising their taxes further by removing this property from the tax rolls.

Please go to the Town of Brunswick’s website to email your Town Councilor to vote to return 946 Mere Point Road to the tax rolls.

Dave Osterfeld lives in Brunswick