York Town News
Citizen group hoping to protect open space around Highland Farm
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - For months, the second phase of a major subdivision of Highland Farm has been making headlines and bringing out abutters and conservationists alike with concerns about the plan.This week, Joanne Muckenhoupt announced the formation of a grassroots group called "Citizens for the Protection of Highland Farm Land" that hopes to work with Highland Farm's owner and anyone interested in the preservation of the open space around Boulter Pond.
At issue, Muckenhoupt explained, is not only the diversity of species of plants and wildlife in this area, which abuts Mount Agamenticus to the Sea conservation lands, but also the proximity of the proposed housing development to Boulter Pond. The pond serves as the water supply for about 5,000 Kittery Water District customers.
At this point, Muckenhoupt said, the group is hoping to get the word out to local residents that they exist, and to work toward a "win-win" scenario for the land owner and for the Kittery and York Water Districts and residents interested in conservation. The water supply is a backup for the York Water District.
Concerns about the potential impact of the development of even 10-acre lots for the subdivision came up during the ongoing Highland Farm review in December.
At that time, Mike Rogers of the Kittery Water District expressed concerns about lots that border the pond and the potential for new property owners to access that water for swimming or to use chemicals on their property that might damage the water supply.
"Due to the location, it would be pretty tough for us to police that," Rogers said of the restrictions town zoning places on such uses in the watershed overlay district.
At the same meeting, York Town Planner Steve Burns called that concern "the $64,000 question," saying that while the zoning might say a property owner is not allowed to "snap a twig in this area," enforcement in such remote locations is an issue.
Muckenhoupt said the citizen group is made up of many of the individuals who have raised concerns about the project during the preliminary plan review over the past months, and is not affiliated with the York Land Trust or any other conservation organization.
"This is a major, major development and it's right up to the watershed," Muckenhoupt said. "Our goal is for education and conservation. We are not anti-development or against private ownership of land … Our concern is this particular parcel of land and where it is located."
"Development can be great if it is done well," she said, adding, "it is just that this area is so fragile. How do you keep people from going swimming? There is no way we're going to be able to regulate it."
At the Planning Board's meeting on Highland Farm last month, the town of Kittery submitted a letter of concern about the proposed development's location adjacent to Boulter Pond, citing the pond's status as a main source of drinking water for that town.
Acknowledging the argument that property owners should have the right to develop their land as they see fit, Muckenhoupt said the ultimate goal would be to purchase either the 130 acres or conservation easements on the parcel so that it could be preserved as part of the Mount Agamenticus to the Sea region.
"This would provide a straight shot from the mountain to the York River," she said.
However, she said, the group is still in the information gathering stage, and will be setting up a website where residents can learn more about their work. She said they welcome a dialogue with the Highland Farm Phase 2 development team and anyone looking for what she called a win-win scenario for the parcel.
The Planning Board and applicant agreed to continue the ongoing review to this month, and that meeting is set for this Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. at the library. Muckenhoupt said she and others will be attending, and that residents are welcome to write to her at joannem@maine.rr.com for more information on the grassroots organization.
