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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	May, 2006	Return to newsletter index

City Seeking Land For Saco's Future

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The parcel of land along the Saco River, known as Sandy Bottom, was purchased last year using Land for Saco's Future funds.

The Land For Saco's Future Committee is considering the acquisition of land in Saco to preserve community character and to provide recreational opportunities to residents. Voters approved a $1.5 million bond referendum for purchases of land for conservation and recreation purposes. About $1 million remains after purchase (and partial gifts) of parcels on the Saco River and off Buxton Road.

The Committee and the City Council have developed a nomination form which is attached. The Committee considers land which meets at least one of the following purposes:

1. Trail corridors
2. Sports and recreation fields, active recreation
3. Land for the creation or expansion of:
   1. Parks, including urban park areas
   2. Low impact/passive recreation areas
   3. Areas suitable for traditional outdoor uses
4. Land which has scenic or historic value, or protects community character
5. Land which provides water access, or which provides access to recreation and open space resources.

In addition to purchasing land outright, the program will also consider gifts, partial gifts, purchase of easements or development rights, partial gifts and partial sales, and other proven methods of preserving land. We are particularly interested in cooperating with other land preservation, conservation, recreation and governmental partners to maximize Saco's benefits from the program.

Any land to be considered should meet the following threshold factors:

1. Land which conforms to one or more of the five priority categories and appears to have significant values in that category.
2. Land which is safely and conveniently accessible.
3. Land which appears to be free of obvious risks, such as environmental or public safety hazards, or a strong indication that those risks can be overcome.
4. Land which serves the community
5. Land which is in Saco.
6. Land which appears to be owned by a willing seller or donor.
7. Land which is a good value.

The nomination form provides a means to start the consideration of a property which you think is should be considered. Please provide any additional information that might help with the evaluation, and return it to the Saco Planning Office, City Hall, 300 Main Street, Saco 04072. Thanks for your interest.

Land For Saco's Future Committee: Jim Molleur, Chair, Deborah McKenney, Mike Coulombe, Les Smith, John Gold, Kerry Green.