The Scarborough election on Nov. 5 will include a $6 million land bond request on the local ballot. The measure was approved in the Sept. 4 Town Council meeting along with a written explanation and recommendation by the council to be included on the ballot question.

The land bond question was first requested to be put on the November ballot by the town’s Parks and Conservation Land Board in January 2024. The board is responsible for evaluating applications for conservation projects to receive funding from the land acquisition fund. This fund was originally established in 2000 for the purpose of conserving natural areas, providing public access and recreation, and the protection of wildlife habitat and scenic or environmentally sensitive areas. All applications for the use of land bond money must be reviewed by the board. The board uses a detailed acquisition evaluation process for properties based on factors such as size, preservation of natural resources, location to habitat, public access and creating connectivity. Recommendations of the board are provided to the Town Council and a three-step public process is followed before any use of the land money is approved.

The town of Scarborough has long committed to land conservation efforts. Since 2000, the town has contributed $7.5 million to the fund through voter approval in four elections. Notable conservation projects include Warren Woods (2012) and Pleasant Hill Preserve (2014), which are owned by the Scarborough Land Trust. Beyond conservation, the land bond supported the purchase of the Higgins Beach lot (2010) to secure beach access and agricultural easements to protect Frith Farm (2010), Broadturn Farm (2004) and Comstock (2013). Land bond funds made these projects possible along with state and federal grants and funding from organizations like the Scarborough Land Trust, Land for Maine’s Future and the Maine Farmland Trust.

Two decades after the first contribution to the land bond, the Town Council has continued Scarborough’s allegiance to our natural areas. In 2023, the council unanimously approved the 30×30 resolution, a broader initiative which aims to conserve 30% of its land and water by 2030. In the January 2024 recommendation letter to the Town Council, board Chair Jessica Sargent stated that the land bond replenishment would not only continue to maintain Scarborough’s parks and land conservation, but that “new bonding capacity is necessary to fulfill the resolution.”

Conserving land brings several benefits to the community. Economically, it serves as a tool to mitigate the effects of development on infrastructure and the town’s costs for services. The community identified this as an area of importance in the 2023 community survey, where when asked the three most significant issues that residents think Scarborough will face over the next five years, the top response was “pace of community growth/expansion” (77%). Land in conservation therefore becomes land that cannot be developed or put a strain on town resources.

Stewardship of natural resources has also been a defining factor of Scarborough’s identity over time. The town’s 2021 comprehensive plan outlines a vision for the future of Scarborough that preserves this identity. One of the vision statements listed is “the Scarborough Marsh is central to the town’s identity, creating a special awareness by our residents of the importance of all of the town’s natural resources. Future land use will follow a pattern of development that is sensitive to protecting our beaches, dunes, rivers, open spaces, farmlands, and other elements that comprise our unique ecosystem.” Conservation protects the water quality in our rivers, streams and the marsh. It also contributes to many of the public benefits that Scarborough is known for – land that can be used for outdoor recreation and open space for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The land bond question posed on the November election ballot requests up to $6 million for the purposes designated in the land acquisition fund. While previous voter approved funds have ranged from $1 million-$2.5 million, this amount was chosen by the Parks and Conservation Land Board to account for current considerations. The board has observed a higher cost of land in Scarborough, reducing the impact of a lesser amount. It also accounts for what’s expected to be a strong few years of upcoming conservation purchases to help meet the council’s 30×30 goal and support the open space plan, which will be finalized by 2025 and provide a deliberate roadmap to conservation priorities.

Allison Carrier is the marketing and communications manager for the town of Scarborough.