Cape to present open space rules

Cape Elizabeth officials are set to unveil a management plan for 923 acres of town-owned open space, along with more than 16 miles of public trails.

An Open Space and Greenbelt Management Plan will be presented before a public forum at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, at city hall.

“For the first time, there is a comprehensive list of uses, or activities that would be allowed on some parcels and not on others,” said Town Planner Maureen O'Meara. “The idea is to let people respond to what we are proposing. Did we get it right? Are we off base? Let us know.

“This will be a great time when we have something with some meat to it for people to take a look at, when they can make meaningful comments on something that could well be conceptualized into something that, within a month, will go before the Town Council,” said O’Meara.

The public forum caps off nine months of work by the Open Space committee, a group that includes members of the town conservation commission, as well as Town Councilor Jessica Sullivan.

The policy proposals do not include changes Fort Williams Park or the town athletic fields, which are independently managed.

The plan divides other town-owned areas into separate categories for the first time. Among these are seven "preserve" areas – open spaces where the presence of wetlands or other features will “severely constrain” use.

According to a town press release, “These areas are often important wildlife habitats and valuable to neighborhoods as natural areas, although they usually do not include trails. The draft plan for the first time sets out a policy to leave these areas as they are.”

The newly designated preserves areas include Alewife Cove, Eastfield, Ferne Peddy, Hampton Neighborhood, Highland, Holan and Patricia.

The draft management plan treats another group of small parcels as "neighborhood parks," valuable primarily to the surrounding neighborhood. For the first time, these areas will come with a list of acceptable uses and activities, ranging from limits on hunting and trapping and hours of use to pet waste requirements.

For example, trails will be open at all hours, but nighttime use will be restricted to “quiet enjoyment.” Not all of the proposed rules curtail current uses, however. The plan does allow dogs to be off-leash in open space areas.