The Cape Elizabeth Town Council on Monday supported a proposal to dedicate a 2.5km trail at Gull Crest to cross-country skiing and hiking, but decided to wait and hear from people who use the trail before voting.

Cape Nordic, a local non-profit group that promotes cross-country skiing, pitched their plan at Monday’s meeting. Cape Nordic would pay for trail improvements and maintenance, but ask the town to ban snowmobiles from using the trail anymore.

Middle School Nordic Ski Team coach Muzzy Barton said if the town granted Cape Nordic stewardship of the proposed 2.5km loop, it would ultimately save the town money.

By Cape Nordic’s estimate, the town would save between $4,000 and $5,500 annually on transportation costs, snowmaking and grooming fees. Approximately 80 Cape kids participate in the cross-country skiing programs at both the middle school and high school levels. They are currently bused to Twin Brooks recreational building located in Cumberland, which is a 30 minute ride. This is an inconvenience that limits the opportunity for student participation, Barton argued.

Barton said the use of the 2.5 km, looped trail running through Gull Crest would “alleviate that time and expense.”

Part of the trail is now used for snowmobiling. If approved, Cape Nordic would cut the remaining part of the trail to complete the loop and maintain its grooming. They also plan to include snowmaking capabilities somewhere down the line.

Cape Nordic is requesting that access of the trail be limited to non-motorized activity such as hiking, snowshoeing and skiing.

Town Manager Mike McGovern said this plan would require coordination with many interested parties, including the Cape Snowmobile Association, the Conservation Commission, the Maine Department of Environment Protection, and others.

Councilor Anne Swift Kayatta said the proposal “has a great exciting potential” but that she wanted to ensure “that everyone with an interest have an opportunity to speak.”

McGovern is hoping to hold a forum for all interested parties to discuss the proposal sometime in January.

Cape Nordic proposed their plan hoping to host races and take over trail grooming this season.

“It would certainly be better to have a race on a trail designed specifically for racing,” said Barton. “We would love to utilize that as early as this year.”

McGovern approved limited grooming of the trails for the season until all interested parties were heard.

Councilor Mary Ann Lynch said the proposal was viable after ironing out the wrinkles. “It sounds all very doable,” she said, “but I just wanted to make sure we have all our i’s dotted and t’s crossed.”

Councilors were concerned about potential costs to the town, and the impact on those who may be currently using the trail for other purposes. But it was clear they were enthused by the proposal.

The idea has been referred to town staff and is expected to return to the council in February.

New dugouts

The council voted to allow the little league association to build new dugouts at Old Lions Field.

“They’re in pretty sorry shape,” said John Thibodeau, who represented the league at the Monday meeting.

The dugouts are “falling apart and pose a safety threat to the players,” he said in an e-mail to Town Manager McGovern. The dugouts, he said, are 15 to 20 years old and not Little League regulation size.

After some debate, the council also voted to pay the approximate $1,000 permitting cost since the Little League Association would pay to build the dugouts.

Spurwink Ave. rehab

The council voted to put money from the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Committee (PACTS) toward projects on Spurwink Avenue, rather than Shore Road, after hearing that the cost to build Shore Road to federal specifications was not viable for the town.

In order to receive funds from PACTS, the road would need to be built to federal specifications, which McGovern said in a letter to the council would cost millions of dollars.

“Anything we do (on Shore Road), it seems we’re going to be doing with local dollars,” said McGovern.

The state Deparment of Transportation will not approve projects for federal funding unless the roads are built to federal specifications, which include traffic density stipulations amongst other factors. Spurwink Avenue a road also in need of rehabilitation could be built to federal specifications and therefore qualify for PACTS funding said McGovern.

“I think that this is a good fall-back plan but it kills me that we’re not going to be able to do anything on Shore Road,” said Councilor Mary Ann Lynch.

The Spurwink rehabilitation would run from just north of the Spurwink church intersection to Deer Run Road. The current road would be rebuilt with four foot shoulders, minor drainage alterations and some ditches would be replaced with paved curbs.