    [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                                                          FALMOUTH

                                                                   PUBLIC ACCESS STUDY

                                                                            1987

                    HT
                    393
                    .M22
                    F35
                    1997

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                                        FALMOUTH

                           PUBLIC ACCESS STUDY

                                               1987

                                    FINAL REPORT

                                              Prepared by

                      THE GREATER PORTLAND COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
                                        233 OXFORD STREET
                                      PORTLAND, MAINE 04101

                                          . August 1987

                                    Financial assistance for this study was
                                    provided by a grant from the Maine
                                    State Planning Office, through funding
                                    provided by the U.S. Department of
                                  -Commerce, Office of Ocean and Coastal
                                    Resource Management, under the
                                    Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972

                                         US Department of Commerce
                                    NOAA Coajital Services Center Library
                                          2234 South Hobson.Axenua,
                                          Charlestonp SC 29405-2413

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                PAGE

             I. INTRODUCTION                                      1
               A. STUDY PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE
               B. NEEDS ASSESSMENT
               C. GROWING DEMAND
               D. TYPES OF ACCESS
               E. STUDY METHODOLOGY

             11. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS                          11

             111. ACCESS TO THE COAST                             16
               A. CONSTRAINTS/1-IMITATIONS
               B. OPPORTUNITIES/POTENTIALS
               C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS

             IV. ACCESS TO THE PRESUMPSCOT ESTUARY                21
               A. CONSTRAINTS/1-IMITATIONS
               B. OPPORTUNITIES/POTENTIALS
               C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS

             V. ACCESS TO RIVERS AND INLAND AREAS                 26
               A. PRESUMPSCOT RIVER
                 1. CONSTRAINTS/LIMITATIONS
                 2. OPPORTUNITIES/POTENTIALS
                 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS
               B. MILLCREEK
               C. PISCATAQUA AND EAST BRANCH OF PISCATAQUA
               D. INLAND AREAS

             VI. STRATEGIES FOR OBTAINING PUBLIC ACCESS           34

             Vil. APPENDICES                                      39
               APPENDIX 1: PUBLIC ACCESS INVENTORY
               APPENDIX 2: FALMOUTH PARCEL SURVEY
               APPENDIX 3: FALMOUTH LARGE LOTS
               APPENDIX 4: LITERATURE SEARCH
               APPENDIX 5: PUBLIC ACCESS GOALS AND POLICIES

             MAP: EXISTING AND FUTURE PUBLIC ACCESSWAYS

                                          1. INTRODUCTION

                              A. STUDY PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION

               The purpose of this study was to investigate and recommend options for
               improving and expanding public access to Falmouth's coastal and estuary
               areas, and to its rivers and inland open spaces.

               The emphasis of the study was on access to the coast and the Presumpscot
               Estuary. Although access to all the areas listed above is important,
               Falmouth's coastline remains its most unique and valuable natural
               resource.  Environmental constraints and private ownership patterns
               significantly reduce opportunities for public access. But the few
               opportunities that remain deserve thorough investigation.  The difficul ty
               of securing additional access to the coast is itself a reason for careful
               consideration and creative strategies.

               This study report includes separate sections covering access to the coast,
               access to the Presumpscot Estuary, and access to rivers and land areas.
               Each of these sections includes a brief description of the constraints and
               opportunities for access, followed by specific recommendations for
               improving public access in the particular area.

               The report also includes an Executive Summary, followed by a section that
               details some general recommendations for implementing public access
               proposals. A final section of the report summarize techniques available
               to the community for obtaining additional public access. Most of these are
               termed in this report as "property conveyances and access arrangements"
               and include such mechanisms as outright land purchase, conservation
               easements and land leasing.

                                     B. ASSESSING ACCESS NEED

               This study assumed-the premise that additional public in Falmouth is
               necessary or at least desirable. An indepth assessment of public access
               needs was not made. Most of the available recreational need models were
               deemed too broad to provide an accurate assessment of access needs;
               specific methologies for determining public access need were not located,
               nor were they developed.

               A 1981 GPCOG Outdoor Recreation Report, using National Recreation and
               Parks Association suggested standards, rated Falmouth as surpassing
               thresholds for most recreational facilities, including swimming, picnic
               areas, jogging and bicycle paths, cross-country skiing trails and nature
               study areas. To meet the NRPA standard requiring one swimming pool or
               beach for 15,000 people, however, the report cited the small, unofficial
               beach at Mackworth Island.

               In its analysis, the GPCOG report did cite an apparent lack of swimming
               areas in Falmouth due to heavy single-family development on the coast
               and Highland Lake. The report recommended that the few remaining
               parcels in these areas be developed as public access, that swimming areas
               be created on the coast, the Presumpscot or Highland Lake, and that land
               along the Presumpscot, Piscataqua and East Branch of Piscataqua rivers be
               used for water-related recreation such as hiking, nature study and access
               for small boating. The report also cited a regional need for more coastal
               access in the area between Portland and Freeport.

               Although certain public access needs appear obvious, a more accurate
               assessment of need is required for the town to develop priorities and
               provide solid justification for particular access policies. This study
               recommends that Falmouth conduct a formal public survey of access and
               recreational needs in the community. The results of this survey will
               identify specific needs and permit the town gauge local support for
               particular access options.

                               C. GROWING DEMAND FOR RECREATION

               Even without objective models, it is clear that recreational, and
               specifically, public access, needs are growing in Falmouth and most other
               towns in Southern Maine. Some of this rising demand is a result of
               increasing populations. Falmouth's population, for instance, is expected to
               undergo a 25 percent increase between 1985 and 1995 (7,276 to 9,123).

               Perhaps more significant than rising population is the well-documented
               increase in recreational demands of the average citizen. These increases
               are a result both of more leisure time and of more active livestyles,

                                                2

              especially among the 20-39 year-old "baby-boorners." There also are
              signs of increasing recreational use by those over 65, especially for more
              passive activities such as walking and hiking.

              This increasing demand for recreation has occurred without a concurrent
              expansion in the amount of available public access to water and open
              space areas. In fact, the trend -- both regionally and statewide -- has
              been for reduced levels of public access as rural areas are developed, as
              more landowners post their property and as more land and water resources
              are protected due their environmental fragility.

                                        D. TYPES OF ACCESS

              Public access can take a number of forms: boat lauch ramps, docks and
              piers, beaches, scenic overlooks, parks, walkways, bikeways and trails for
              hiking, nature study, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. In
              concentrating on access to water areas, this report focused on access
              involving active recreation such as boating, swimming and clamming, and
              more passive recreation such as walking, hiking, birding, and scenic
              viewing.

              Primary to this study are the proposals for public walkways. The concept
              behind public walkways is to integrate access points to coastal and other
              open space areas with designated routes that allow pedestrians and
              bicyclists to travel safely from one point to another.

              Although the proposed walkways use, wherever possible, existing access
              and public ways, in some cases land ownership patterns and environmental
              factors pose significant barriers to making linkages. A number of these
              barriers are identified. But the emphasis is on general schemes and
              alignments that are coherent and expansive. While the actual realization
              of a successful walkway system requires assembling many individual
              segments, without an overall plan for what links are needed, there can be
              little or no coordinated movement toward reaching this objective.

              Most of the recommendations involving boating involve access for canoes
              and small non-motorized boats. There are several reasons for this focus.
              First, access for larger boats in Falmouth was deemed considerably better
              than for other recreational activities. The town now allows boats to be
              moored along most of its coastline.   Boat lauching facilities are available

                                                3

               at the Town Landing, and Handy Boat provides boat lauching and storage
               services for a fee. (And Portland Country Club provides boat access to
               members).   All three boat-oriented facilities are located within 3/4 mile
               of each other along one of the few coastal stretches in Falmouth that has
               the topography, water depth and shoreline composition favorable for
               larger boats access. Finally, larger boat access was considered
               undesirable to a number of waterbodies due to these area's environmental
               sensitivity or greater potential for more passive recreational pursuits.

                                           E. METLIODOLOGY

               The study methodology consisted of first developing an acceptable outline
               that delineated the scope and organization of the study. The actual study
               process consisted of collecting information, analyzing it and making
               appropriate recommendations.

               Information collection consisted of three main components: interviews
               and meetings with relevant individuals and groups, site visits, and
               analysis of existing maps, data and literature. Site visits included a boat
               tour of Falmouth's coastal and estuarine shoreline, and investigation of
               the Presumpscot River corridor via canoe.  Information gathering also
               included a survey of existing public access points and of publicly owned
               land.

               Analysis was geared toward examining opportunities and limitations for
               improving public access and making appropriate reco m mend iations with
               emphasis on coastal access and linkages between access points. This
               report is the main work product of the study. Besides the following
               analysis, the report includes a map of existing and potential public access
               areas, an inventory of existing public access locations, parcel surveys and
               a list of goals and policies for the town pertaining to public access.

                                                 4

                                      EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

                                  GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

              1. Conduct formal survey of citizens on public access needs and
              support for access options.
              2. Establish close working relationship with other local groups
              interested in this issue: Town Council, Planning Board, Falmouth
              Conservation Trust, Conservation Commission, Recreation
              Department, Conservation Commission, Planning Board,
              Comprehensive Plan Committee, Maine Audubon and other local
              groups, and assign specific tasks.
              3. Pursue full options for property conveyances and other
              arrangements that promote public access as summarized in
              Section VI.
              4. Zone additional water frontage areas as Resource Protection.
              5. Consider strengthening language and provisions pertaining to
              Open Space in Comprehensive Plan and in subdivision and zoning
              ordinances.
              6. Assess environmental impact of particular walkway and
              public access schemes, and devise methods of stabilizing
              erosion-prone and other environmentally sensitive areas
              fronting the Casco Bay, the Presumpscot Estuary and rivers.
              7. Develop and maintain adequate funding sources to finance
              public-land acquisition and access improvements.

                                        ACCESS TO COAST

              1. Enhance public access at Town Landing.
              a. Continue to implement selected improvements recommended in 1980
              Thomas Churchill Company report, "Falmouth Parcel Study."
              b. Consider increasing boat mooring fees for non-Falmouth residents.
              c. Pursue property conveyances and access arrangements with owners of
              adjacent beach areas to secure uncontested public use and to obtain
              additional land area-for facility expansion.
              d. Add a float(s) to the pier to reduce dock congestion and to provide
              deeper water for dockings by larger boats.
              e. Consider improvements to boat ramp area.

                                              5

              2.   Maintain good communication/relationship with State on
              Mackworth Island public access.

              3. Assert and improve public right-of-way, on Mussel Cove as
              clarnmer access.
              a. Assemble necessary legal documentation.
              b. Negotiate settlement with owner of adjacent parcel.
              c. Make minor improvements to the area.
              - Widen last 50 yards of Old Mill Road; obtain right seaside "unbuildable"
              lots if necessary.
              - Install sign to designate clarnmer access.
              - Install bicycle rack and trash receptacle.
              - Clear and thin vegetation within immediate path to water and arrange
              periQdic maintenance.

              4. Doyalgp o9anlir, PY9r1,qQk* at i9rmllnl 0 dpad-9nd puW!'g
              *tract*.
              a. Investigate feasibility on 0a,5Go TerraGO, East Ramsdell Road and
              Amerescoggin Road.
              b. Consider improving proposed streets extensions on Underwood Road and
              Edgewater Street.

              5. Pursue concept of a Casco Bay Waterfront Park.
              a. Forward general concept for a waterfront park to be used for passive
              recreation and overlook (similiar to Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth).
              b. Gain support of local boards/groups and individuals for idea, including
              Council, Planning Board, Conservation Trust, Recreation Director,
              Conservation Commission, Comprehensive Plan Committee and Maine
              Audubon.
              c. If support strong, contact property owners of large and/or vacant
              parcels. (See Appendix 2 and 3.)
              d. Pursue property conveyances/access arrangements with landowners.

              6. Implement Shoreline Drive-Mackworth Island
              walkway/bikeway plan proposed in this report.
              a. Contact adjacent property owners to obtain input/concerns.
              b. Develop formal signage/markings/map for route.

                                               6

              c. Obtain additional access to increase scope of walkway, especially over
              lots at end of Bayside Drive (Map U-1, Lots 103 and 107) and between the
              Mackworth Island causeway and Shoreline Drive. (Map U-1, Lot 102A)
              e. Integrate erosion-control measures and other environmental concerns
              into design of walkway segments on or near floodplain, high water mark
              or other sensitive areas. (See General Recommendation 6.)
              d. Develop public parking on the site of park planned as part of Route 1
              realignment at interesection with Route 88. (See Section III: C.

                               ACCESS TO PRESUMPSCOT ESTUARY

              1. Work with Maine Audubon Society to enhance and expand
              public access on the estuary.
              a. Discuss possibility of developing canoe launch and other impovements
              on Audubon land.
              b. Consider offering Audubon use of adjacent town-owned parcel and
              improved parking on Old Route 1.
              c. Gain Audubon support for public walkway plan below.

              2. Implement Churchill report recommendations for
              improvements to site of sewage treatment facility on
              Clearwater Drive.
              a. Integrate erosion-control measures and other environmental concerns
              into design of footpaths and catwalks on or near floodplain and marsh
              areas. (See General Recommendation 6.)

              3. Consider scenic overlooks at termini of dead-end public
              streets.
              a. Investigate feasibility on Hartford Avenue, Kelly Road and proposed road
              extension off Sunset Avenue.

              4. Investigate use of parcels on estuary that are cut-off by
              Route 295.
              a. Secure Maine Department of Transportation permission to access sites
              off 295.
              b. Consider developing scenic turnout on town-owned parcel (Map U-29,
              Parcel 17, Map U-1).
              c. Pursue land conveyances and access arrangements with owners of other
              cut-off parcels, including lot with informal skating pond.

                                               7

             d. If no road access possible, consider canoe landing spot(s) and picnic
             area(s) on cut-off parcels.

             5. Develop and implement Presumpscot Estuary Walkway plan
             described in this study.
             a. Involve Maine Audubon Society in development of plan and enlist
             assistance in its implementation.
             b. Contact adjacent property owners to obtain input/concerns.
             c. Pursue property conveyances and access arrangements with owners of
             lots at end of Providence Avenue.
             d. Integrate erosion-control measures and other environmental concerns
             into design of walkways segments on or near floodplain and marsh areas.
             (See General Recommendation 6.)
             e. Hire engineer/landscape architect to design walkway and contractor to
             construct it.
             f. Investigate opportunities for future extensions of Presumpcot Estuary
             walkway.
             - Contact other property owners along estuary's east shore and pursue
             property conveyances/access arrangements.
             -Assign local groups or boards responsibility for follow-up.

             6. Develop and implement plan for connector between coastal
             and estuarine walkways as described in this study.
             a. Designate crosswalk location on Route 1 at Route 88 intersection or'
             proposed intersection at Hartford Street.
             b. Install proper signage/demarcation.
             c. As part of public park planned near Route 88 intersection, integrate
             bicycle/pedestrian path separated from Route 1.
             d. Design park to serve as focal point for two-walkway scheme.
             d. Include small parking lot and bicycle racks at park.

                          ACCESS TO RIVER.J AND INLAND AREAS

             PRESUMPSCOT RIVER

             1. Improve access and amenities for canoe use.
             a. Secure and develop launch area(s) off Blackstrap Road and other
             obtainable parcels.
             b. Improve portage around Smelt Hill Dam.
             c. Develop series of canoe landing spots/picnic areas.

                                          8

              d. Work with Maine Audubon to develop interpretive guide on river's
              ecology and history.

              2. Pursue riverfront walkway concept.
              a. Forward idea of riverfront park, i.e. Westbrook's and Portland's Riverton
              Park, to be used for active and passive recreation.
              b. Gain support of local boards/groups and individuals for idea, including
              Council, Planning Board, Conservation Trust, Recreation Director,
              Conservation Commission and Maine Audubon.
              c. Contact owners of large riverfront parcels on interest in proposal.
              d. Pursue property conveyances and access arrangements with landowners.

              3. Develop public walkway(s) along river.
              a. Coordinate with City of Portland on its plan for walkways on Portland
              sections of the Presumpscot.
              b. Contact property owners about interest in participating in plan.
              c. Pursue property conveyances and access arrangements, especially
              conservation easements and securing access during development reviews.
              d. Integrate erosion-control measures and other environmental concerns
              into design of walkways on or near stream banks. (See General
              Recommendation 6.)

              MILLCREEK

              1. Implement selected Churchill recommendations.
              a. Integrate erosion-control measures and other environmental concerns
              into design of trails and footbridges on or near stream banks. (See General
              Recommendation 6.)
              2. Pursue property conveyances and access arrangements,
              especially on lot between Nature Conservancy and Falmouth
              Nature Preserve. (Map 13, Lot 5)
              3. Strongly consider changing Shoreland Zoning along Mill Creek
              to Resource Protection.

              PISCATAQUA RIVER

              1. Improve access and recreational potential of town-owned
              frontage. (Map U-40, Lots 13 and 16; Map U-41, Lot 7)
              2. Develop town-owned parcels on Mill Road as public
              park/overlook area.

                                                 9

             3. Pursue property conveyances and access arrangements,
             especially securing access during development reviews.
             4. Investigate other park/walkway options.

             EAST BRANCH OF PISCATAQUA RIVER

             1. Contact Falmouth Conservation Trust on possible public
             access and recreational improvements on property it owns
             fronting East Branch. (Map R-5, Lot 30A)
             2. Develop canoe launch on Conservation Trust parcel or other
             suitable site.
             3. Pursue property conveyances and access arrangements,
             especially securing access during development reviews.
             4. Investigate other walkway/park options.

             INLAND OPEN SPACES

             1. Assess potential of existing town-owned parcels.
             2. Identify other desirable inland sites/features to be acquired
             or to which access might be secured.
             3. Pursue property conveyances and access arrangements,
             especially securing access during development reviews and
             considering land swaps involving existing town-owned parcels.
             4. Develop comprehensive open space/greenbelt plan.
             5. Utilize existing utility right-of-ways,
             6. Develop East-West links across town.
             7. Improve and expand bike routes.

                                          10

                               11. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

              The following recommendations were developed to aid in the
              implementation of steps detailed in Sections III through V of this report
              and to promote general public access aims.

                                     1. PUBLIC ACCESS SURVEY

              Surveying the public allows the town to identify public assess needs and
              test receptiveness of residents toward various policies and proposals.
              The lieu of reliable methodologies for accurately determining public
              access needs, a community survey is the best alternative to assess needs
              and to gain policy direction.

              The survey itself can be developed to address a number of issues and
              concerns. Citizens can be asked to rate the importance of access to
              certain areas of the community or to show their level of support for
              various town actions. The town also may want to use the survey as an
              occasion to query residents about open space, natural resource protection
              and recreational needs. The town of Yarmouth's 1983 Open Space Survey
              effectively addresses a number of these issues.

                          2. WORK CLOSELY WITH OTHER LOCAL GROUPS

              This report directs its recommendations to Falmouth or "the town."
              Although town officials and staff should be the iniatiators of these
              actions, delegation of responsibilities can and should be shared with a
              number of groups: the Council, the Planning Board, the Falmouth
              Conservation Trust, the Conservation Commission, the Recreation
              Department, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, Maine Audubon Society
              and others.

              The Falmouth Conservation Trust, for example, may be the best group to
              contact individual land owners of large parcels about some of the property
              options described in the Section VI. Maine Audubon could be asked to
              develop educational brochures and advise the town on ecological impacts.

              In each case there may be a group or groups best equipped to handle a
              certain task or project. But it is essential that the particular group know
              what its area of responsibility is. Once these tasks are assigned, the
              success of achieving the recommendations of this study will depend on
              adequate follow through.

                         3. PURSUE FULL RANGE OF PRO 3ERTY OPTIONS

              By the term "property conveyances and access arrangements," this report
              refers to various land transfers, restrictions, aggreements and
              accommodations that can be used to promote public access: outright
              purchase, bargain sale, conservation easement, leasing, development
              incentives and others options as detailed in Section VI. Most of these
              alternatives entail voluntary consent by a landowner or developer. The
              objective for the town is to ensure that some town body or local group is
              methodically and thoroughly pursuing this range of options with
              landowners, potential property owners and developers.

                              4. RESOURCE PROTECTION EXPANSION

              Access to the Casco Bay, to the Presumpscot Estuary and River, to other
              Rivers and to Highland Lake will mean little if these resources are
              polluted or overdeveloped. Only a small percentage of the land areas
              fronting Falmouth's waterbodies are zoned Resource Protection. Most are
              zoned Limited Reside ntial- Recreation, a designation that allows single
              and multifamily dwellings, timber harvesting, mineral extraction and a
              plethora of other activities.

              Rezoning some of these areas Resource Protection will do a number of
              things.  First, it will give added protection to fragile areas that easily fit
              within the state's criteria for Resource Protection and which are
              inapproprate locations for uses allowed in the LRR zone. Coastal bluffs,
              estuary marsh areas, steep slopes along the Presumpscot and the Mill
              Creek flood plain are examples.

              Second, it will encourage retention of vegetative cover along shoreland
              areas, reducing erosion and the flow of phosphorus, nitrates and other
              pollutants into adjacent waters. With pollution from direct discharges on
              the decrease, this type of non-point pollution is increasingly the cause of
              water quality problems, and its effects will accelerate with development.

                                                12

               Improved water quality is now providing an opportunity in Falmouth for a
               fuller use. of a number of previously polluted waterbodies: it would be
               unfortunate if new water quality problems reversed this trend.

               Third, it will ensure that an adequate "corridor," is retained between
               waterbodies and development activities. Many of the problems
               encountered in this study were related to buildings or developments
               constructed on or near the edge of adjacent water areas that essentially
               "cut off" possible links in public assessways. Some of these developments
               could have easily been set back from the water, preserving scenic views
               to and from the water and allowing the possibility of future access.

               The town should perform an inventory of its water frontage, examine
               environmental conditions and current Shoreland Zoning protection for
               particularly stretches of frontage, and propose segments to be rezoned as
               Resource Protection.

                5. PROVISIONS IN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND TOWN ORDINANCES

               The1981 Comprehensives Plan makes a number of direct and indirect
               references to public access. A policy under the Recreation and Open Space
               section calls for the town "to pursue a consistent, calculated and
               farsighted policy of land acquisition for public purposes," "to encourage
               the preservation of walkways and bicycle paths as planned features," and
               "to develop recreation areas adjacent to water bodies within the town and
               providing for public access."
                                    I

                As an implementation step under this section, the plan calls for the town
               "to undertake the development of a recreation area adjacent to the
               Presumpscot River and Presumpscot Estuary in anticipation of clean
               waters" and "to undertake efforts to acquire ocean frontage."

               Directives such as these are important in giving town boards and staff
               direction and providing legal justification for actions the town may take
               to improve public ac6ess. In its update of the comprehensive plan,
               Falmouth should strongly reaffirm its commitment to public access,
               adopting goals and policies similiar to those included in the previous plan
               and in Appendix 5 developed as part of this study.

                                                 13

               Falmouth's zoning and subdivision ordinances presently do not contain
               language or provisions pertaining to public access.  Incorporating specific
               public access criteria would give additional guidance on and justification
               for decisions and measures taken by town' staff and boards. Section VI
               provides some specific suggestions on what and where such provisions
               should be included.

                                 6. EUVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY

               Recommendation 4 is concerned with protecting water resources
               from the effects of overdevelopment.  It would be shortsighted to take
               measures to restrict development on shorelines and then discover that
               public accessways were creating their own set of environmental
               problems.

               Developing solutions to environmental constraints also is essential
               because they could allow access "links" to areas that otherwise could not
               be connected. Because developments, due to regulations and common-
               sense construction practices, usually are sited away from enviromentally
               sensitive areas, these "unbuildable" locations often have potential as
               accessways.

               Although environmental constraints were considered before proposing
               walkway alternatives and other access points, indepth engineering
               analysis on a site-by-site basis was not done. Before implementing steps
               so identified in the study, it is strongly suggested that a detailed
               environmental impact analysis be performed.

               This study should have at least the following components:

               1) Environmental assessment of the recommendations/proposals of this
               report, and those of the 1981 report done for the town by Thomas
               Churchill Company, that entail crossing or skirting marsh areas,
               floodplains, wetlandg, river banks or erosion-prone areas. Also,
               preparation of engineering plans and cost estimates.

               2) Examination of existing or potential erosion-prone areas and
     48        development of stabilization methods.  Also, investigation of whether
               stabilization measures can be combined with walkway spans or supports.

                                                14

               3) Study of the impact proposed walkways will have on ecological
               processes and on animals and plant life in the water areas, with
               particular focus on possible impacts the Presumpscot Estuary walkway
               could have on waterfowl and the estuarine environment.

               4) Identification of the permits and approvals needed from Maine
               Departmant of Environmental Protection, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,
               U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies for proposed walkway
               construction, and erosion-stabilization activities.   Also, idenfiication of
               submissions these agencies will require and standards that will applied
               during reviews.

                                    7. BUDGET FOR PUBLIC ACCESS

               Despite the many opportunities available to preserve and improve access
               with little or no expenditure of funds, actually buying property remains an
               ironclad method of securing access. In its annual budget the town should
               allocate substantial monies for the purpose of land aquisition and public
               access improvements. By establishing and maintaining a public access
               fund, the town can be ready to make offers on important properties that
               come on the market or to entice potential sellers.

               The town also should consider giving financial assistance to other groups
               pursuing public access-related activities in Falmouth.     As previously
               mentioned, other local groups may be better suited and ultimately more
               effective at promoting certain public access strategies.

                                                   15

                                            Ill. COASTAL ACCESS

                                      A. CONSTRAINT$ AND LIMITATIONS

                 Opportunities for improving and expanding public access to Falmouth's marine coast
                 are limited by existing physical conditions and land- ownership patterns.

                 A large percentage of Falmouth's shoreline is composed of rock or marine mud,
                 neither of which are condusive for swimming and other common recreational uses.
                 Sandy beaches comprise less than 5 percent of Falmouth's marine coastal frontage.

                 Steep slopes and bluffs further restrict access to the ocean. Slopes over 30 percent
                 predominate near the shoreline with steeper slopes typical on vegetated bluffs and
                 rocky cliffs. At high tides, rising water levels usually leave little or no beach areas.

                 In many locations along Falmouth's coast, the topography and composition of the
                 shoreline create sensitive environmental conditions. Severe erosion is occurring at a
                 number of sites, and increased public access could exacerbate this problem. Mudflats
                 also are extremely sensitive to human activities.

                 Even if Falmouth's marine coastline were less constrained, access to much of it would
                 be cut of by a well-established pattern of private property ownership that often
                 prevents even visual access to the ocean. Over 95 percent of Falmouth's
                 appoximately six miles of coastline is privately owned. Single-family residences
                 account for most of this ownership.

                 The highest densities of residential development exist along the northerly section of
                 the Foreside. Besides homes, three commercial-oriented establishments occupy
                 ocean frontage: Handy Boat, the Portland Yacht Club and the Portland Country Club.
                 Access to these areas is allowed to club members or to users for a fee.

                                     B. OPPORTUNITIES AND POTENTIALS

                 Despite the limitations described above, a number of opportunities for access to the
                 coast exist. Public access occurs now at the Town Landing, and its adjacent beaches
                 are used informally, as is the beach on Mackworth Island. At least six public roads
                 dead-end on the ocean front, and Bayside and Shoreline Drives hug the coastline,
                 offering unobstructed views of Casco Bay. Contested right-of-ways exist on Waites
                 Landing and Mussel Cove, and other historic accessways may exist.

                 Privately owned parcels that are vacant or relatively undeveloped also represent
                 potential future access. Appendix 3 lists parcels over five acres that have ocean
                 frontage. By pursuing some of the options described in Section VI, the town may be
                 able to expand considerably the amount of public access to Falmouth's marine coast.

                                                        16

                            C. ACCESS IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

                1. TOWN LANDING

                As Falmouth's only official public access point to Casco Bay, the Town Landing
                receives a great deal of use. This .4-acres of mostly filled land must accommodate car
                parking and traffic, boat loading and unloading, biCyCles and pedestrians. The public
                road leading down to Landing is steep with a limited right-of-way.

                The town basically has three options to improve public access at the Town Landing: 1)
                acquire additional adjacent property and obtain beach rights, 2) limit the facility's use,
                and 3) maximize the capacity of the site without creating environmental or safety
                problems.

                The town should continue to pursue aggressively property conveyances and other
                access arrangements with adjacent landowners and those who claim rights to the two
                beaches. If additional property can be obtained, the town should consider expanding
                the Landing's facilities. If public beach rights can be secured, the town should
                consider slight improvements and beach supervision.

                The town already limits parking at the landing during the summer to Falmouth
                residents. A remaining option is to increase mooring fees to nonresidents. This would
                help reduce the number of people using the facility.

                A 1980 Study by the Thomas Churchill Company made a series of recommendations
                aimed at improving the capacity and efficiency of the Landing. These included:

                1) Reorienting the existing parking areas with precise parking bay lines painted on the
                pavement.
                2) Covering the area not used for parking with a different surface to define it as a
                pedestrian area.
                3) Constructing a restroom structure with a fresh-water shower and installing benches
                for sunbathing and viewing.
                4) Adding additional amenities such as a public pay phone, bicycle rack and dingy
                ramp.
                5) Reorienting parking on Town Landing road to a 60--percent angle.
                6) Designating an area of beach during the summer to be supervised by a lifeguard.
                (Report does not mention beach rights issue.)
                Churchill's cost estimatd for these improvement was $14,100. In1987thesecost
                would be closer to $18,300.

      0

                                                       17

                The town should continue to implement most of these reornmendations, except for
                number 7 which appears unfeasible unless the road is widened. The need for items
                identified in recommendation 3 and 4 appear particularly pressing. The Falmouth
                Harbormaster suggests improving the boat ramp to facilitate take-outs and to improve
                safety, and additional floats to reduce congestion on the pier and provide deeper
                water for large-boat docking.

                2. MACKWORTH ISLAND

                Public access to Mackworth Island is only by permission of the State of Maine. The
                town should maintain good communication with Department of Education and
                Education and Cultural Services, which manages the Baxter School for the Deaf, and
                with other relevant state departments regarding future access to this area. There are a
                number of issues on which the town and state might cooperate: providing additional
                parking either on or off the island, improvements and possible supervision of the
                island's beach area for swimming and small-boat use, periodic land clean-ups by
                Falmouth residents and other users, and development of a guide to the island's trails
                and natural features.

                3. CONTESTED ACCESS POINTS

                With opportunities for public on Falmouth's marine coast limited, the town may wish to
                pursue reestablishing rights-of-way to areas that have been used historically as
                accessways. In the case of Waites Landing, this option probably is not feasible. No
                areas for public parking exist or appear obtainable, and the relatively high densities in
                the area already put considerable strain on the beach. If a public right-of-way to the
                beach were negotiated, the town should consider adding some bicycle racks and
                posting appropriate signs.

                The right-of-way claim to Mussel Cove is perhaps stronger because of the area's
                recent regular use. But the site has its own set of problems. Although Old Mill Road is
                a public way, the road's narrowness and steep slope limit parking potential. The shore
                frontage itself is not particularly attractive. Except at high tide, the access is to mudflats
                and an indirect view of Casco Bay out Mussel Cove. If the town could assert a right-of-
                way, improvements should include widening the last 25 yards of Old Mill Road, adding
                a bicycle rack and trash receptacle, posting a clammers access sign and thinning out
                some of the vegetation in the path leading down to the water. In order to
                accommodate road widening, the town may have to obtain access to one or more of
                the "unbuildable" parcels located on the ocean side of the Old Mill Road.

                                                       18

                                         I

                4. DEAD-END STREETS/SCENIC OVERLOOKS

                The town should investigate the feasibility establishing public overlook areas at the
                ends of public streets that front the ocean. These points could provide limited scenic
                access to pedestrians, bicyclists and several cars. Improvements to these areas might
                include modest pavement widening and fencing to separate the overlooks from
                adjacent residential areas.

                Casco Terrace, East Ramsdell Road and Amerescoggin Road appear to have the most
                potential as overlooks. Proposed street extentions to the shore for Underwood Road
                and Edgewater Street also merit investigation.

                5. CASCO BAY WATERFRONT PARK

                Although Falmouth has a number of park areas throughout the town, no public park
                exists on its marine coast. Residents of Falmouth must travel to other communities
                such as Portland, Cape Elizabeth or Freeport to enjoy visual access to Casco Bay in a
                park setting.

                Presently no publicly owned coastal parcels exist on which to locate such a park. The
                town should first gauge support for a waterfront park in its public access survey and
                additional town meetings. Town council members, boards, staff and other local groups
                also should be consulted. If support is strong, the town should contact property
                owners of large or vacant oceanfront lots and pursue property conveyance and access
                arrangements with these owners. If privately owned shorefront parcels appear likely to
                become available, the town should move quickly to develop and make purchase
                offers.

                6. SHORELINE DRIVE/MACKWORTH ISLAND WALKWAY

                This walkway already is informally established as a bike route on a series of public
                roads and by the trail system on Mackworth Island. With no modifications to the
                existing pattern of land ownership and few additional improvements besides road
                striping and signage, the following route could be formally established: Traveling north
                from the Martin's Point Bridge, the bikeway/walkway would turn right on Andrews
                Avenue, continuing past Shoreline Drive to the Mackworth Island causway and to the
                island itself with its its extensive trail system.

                Returning from the island, the route would go back out Andrews Avenue, turn right on
                Route 1, go one block, turn right on Phillips Street, bearing right almost immediately
                onto Whitney Street, and follow it to Shoreline Drive. 'The route then would follow
                scenic Shoreline Drive north until its terminus at Hammond Road. Under the present
                land ownership situation, the route would turn left at Hammond Road and continue
                back out to Route 1.

                                                         19

                The main shortcoming of this walkway scheme is its dependence on public roads,
                which limit its attractiveness to pedestrians. This route also suffers from the lack of a
                direct connection between the Mackworth Island causeway and Shoreline Drive.

                By obtaining access over additional land parcels and overcoming a number of
                physical and environmental constraints, the coherence and amenities of this walkway
                could be improved considerably. Gaining access over the parcel that separates
                Bayside Drive from Shoreline Drive (U-1, Lot 103 and 127) would allow the walkway
                to exit Route 1 earlier and include additional ocean frontage along Bayside Drive.
                Obtaining permission or the right to cross the small unbuidable lot immediately north of
                the entrance to the Mackworth Island causeway (Map U-11, Lot 102-A) would create a
                direct walkway link to Shoreline Drive and avoid having to double back to Route 1.
                This link would have to be carefully designed because of erosion problems already
                existing at this location.

                A final walkway option would be to negotiate access over a private parcel located at
                the end of Shoreline Drive and Hammond Street in order to link with a 400-yard strip
                of town-owned frontage that is passable at middle and low tides. After completing this
                beach segment, the walkway would turn inland at a marshy area where sewer
                pumping station is located, follow a short access road to Brown Street and follow that
                road 1,000 feet to its intersection with Route 1.

                This last option would require considerable clearing and possible partial filling of the
                marshy area that leads to the beach from the pumping station.

                Actual frontage along most of the Shoreline Drive/Mackworth Island Walkway is
                composed of small unbuildable lots that lie between the streets and the ocean. These
                areas are extremely sensitive to erosion; many already show signs of being undercut
                by wave action. Possible walkway links connecting Bayside and Shoreline. Drive and
                Shoreline Drive with Brown Avenue would have to be! designed extremely carefully so
                as not to excacerbate this problem. Study of these environmental constraints and
                development of stabilization measures should be based on the environmental impact
                study proposed in General Recommendation 6.

                                                       20

                                      IV. PRESUMPSCOT ESTUARY

                                     A. CONTRAINTS AND LIMITATIONS

                Access to the Presumpsoct Estuary generally is less constrained than access to the
                coast. Some significant environmental and private ownership barriers do exist,
                however.

                Except at high tide, access to water areas is limited by extensive mudflats which at low
                tide leave only a narrow channel linking the Presumpscot River to Casco Bay. Large
                marsh areas also exist, especially along the estuary's eastern shore.

                These marshes and mudflats are important wildlife habitats, especially for waterfowl.
                Mudflats also are now being recognized as vital components of the marine ecological
                system. The fragility of these areas often makes them poor sites for public
                accessways.

                Slopes leading down to these mudflat and marsh areas often are steep and erosion-
                prone. Until recently, poor water quality further limited use of the estuary.

                Land ownerships patterns along the estuary also reduce public access opportunities,
                although not as extensively as on the coast. Single-family homes predominate in the
                neighborhood just north of the Martin's Point Bridge. Two large multi-family project --
                Foreside Common and Foreside Estates -- exist along the east side of the estuary.
                Access to much of the north and west shores of the estuary is cut-off by Interstate 295.

                                    B. OPPORTUNITIES AND POTENTIALS

                The Presumpscot estuary offers a number of existing and potential public access sites.
                The Maine Audubon Society's Gilsland Farm provides; 70-acres of public access for
                passive recreational activities. The town of Falmouth's sewage treatment plant is
                located on a 17.5-acre site further up the estuary that has excellent access potential.
                And at least four public roads provide visual access to the estuary.

                Improved water quality on the estuary in recent years also must be viewed as an
                opportunity. Water quality there now attains standards for contact recreation and
                fishing.

                       Q. RECOMME-NDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS

                1. GILSLAND FARM

                Maine Audubon's appears strongly committed to its policy of allowing public access to
                this extensive holding. Nevertheless, Falmouth should continue its close relationship
                with the Society and, where appropriate, undertake joint ventures. The town should
                check Audubon's interest in developing a canoe launch at an appropriate site on the

                                                      21

                 property. The town, in turn, might consider letting Audubon use an adjacent publicly
                 owned parcel (Map R-2, Lot 7D), improving parking and traffic circulation on Old Route
                 1, or offering assistance in reducing erosion problems occurring along certain bluffs on,
                 the Gilsland Farm property.

                 2. IMPROVE CLEARWATER DRIVE SITE

                 The 1981 Churchill report recommended that the sewage treatment site be developed
                 for hiking, clam digger access, picnicking and a possible small-boat launch. These
                 proposals offer a comprehensive and well-balanced approach for improving access
                 on this site. Specific improvements include:

                 1) Developing a 15-space public parking area off the existing treatment plant access
                 road by obtaining a 20-foot easement on an adjacent parcel (Map R-2, lot 9).
                 2) Developing a trail system extending around the sewage treatment facility through
                 wooded areas and across the salt marsh, with anchored foot-bridges constructed at
                 water channels. Nature interpretative signs and small benches would be provided at
                 locations along the trail. Trails would also provide access for clam digging.
                 3) Creating a picnic area on a wooded area of the site with 2-3 tables, a trash
                 receptacle and a service road constructed to provide maintenance.
                 4) Providing a canoe landing at the edge of the site with a sign demarking the landing
                 that is easily read from a boat on the estuary.

                 Before implementing some of these improvements, the town should first review the
                 results of the environmentally impact study proposed in General Recommendation 6.

                 3. DEAD END STREETS/SCENIC OVERLOOKS

                 The town should consider developing as scenic overlooks a number of public roads
                 that dead-end on the estuary. The most promising sites appear to be on Kelly Road
                 and Hartford Avenue. A proposed road extending to the estuary off of Sunset Road
                 also should be investigated. Improvements to these areas might include modest
                 pavement widening and fencing to separate the overlooks from adjacent residential
                 areas.

                 4. PARCELS OFF 295

                 The town should contact the Maine Department of Transportation regarding possible
                 access to estuary frontage cut-off by Interstate 295. Potential exists to create a scenic
                 overlook or rest stop on-one or more of these parcels. Because of these parcels'
                 location, the town probably could purchase property or easement to them at a
                 relatively low cost. Access to the set of parcels south of the Presumpscot River bridge
                 opening would allow better use of the informal skating pond located there.

                 If road access is not permitted, the town should consider the Churchill report
                 recommendation of establishing a canoe stop/picnic area on a small town-owned
                 parcel (Map U-29, Lot 17) or on another parcel that is obtained.

                                                          22

                S. PRESUMPSCOT ESTUARY WALKWAY

                This proposed walkway would take advantage of existing public access on Gilsland
                Farm and of potential improvements to the town-owned site off Clearview Drive where
                the Falmouth sewage treatment facility is located.

                A number of different walkway alignments exist depending on land ownership
                modifications, environmental conditions and funding Conside rations. The most
                ambitious plan would entail a route extending south from a trail system proposed for
                the Clearwater Drive site by the Churchill report, to run below the embankment of the
                Falmouth Estates. As mentioned previously, the construction of any walkways on or
                close to marsh and mudflats areas should be contingent on the findings of the
                environmental impact study proposed in General Recommendation 6.

                A wooden catwalk structure would be required for some of this route to avoid disturing
                the marsh and to skirt wet areas. Large stretches of this walkway, however, could
                utilize sections of well drained and vegetated land that stands above the marsh and
                floodplain. The walkway would continue in a southerly direction until reaching a
                pumping station and an above-ground sewer pipeline that crosses a large ravine
                where the salt marsh extends inland toward Route 1.

                If a walkway skirting the marsh below the housing project site is not feasible, an
                alternative route could use the road system of Foreside Estates. An existing paved
                path leads from this roadway down an embankment to a pumping station and to the
                point on the north side of the ravine described above. Both of the options would
                require the town to negotiate with Foreside Estates on use or purchase of portions of
                its property.

                On the opposite side of the ravine, two privately owned residences situated on higher
                ground that juts into the estuary effectively cut off a possible connection with Maine
                Audubon-owned property to the south. Unless access across these parcels can be
                obtained, the walkway must turn eastward to follow an established path along the
                northerly bank of the ravine, cross the marsh on a wooden catwalk at a narrower
                stretch closer to Route 1, and climb the ravine's southerly bank to connect with the end
                of Chester Avenue, which is a public dead-end road.

                From Chester, the walkway could follow Providence Street and Old Route 1 to the
                Audubon Society entrance. A more direct route could be created by following an
                unimproved extention of-Harding Avenue to Hartford Street, and then turning down
                Walcott Steet which connects with Gilsland Farm and its well-developed trail system.

                                                       23

                6. ESTUARY-COASTAL CONNECTION

                With or without the complete development of these two walkways, it is essential to
                create a safe and well-marked connection between Gilsland Farm and Mackworth
                Island. This connection requires crossing U.S. Route 1 at some point south of the
                Route 1 commercial district. The crossing also is needed as part of alternate bike
                routes proposed in a 1987 GPCOG report. (See below.)

                An opportunity exists for integrating this crossing into improvements proposed by a
                Route 1 Corridor Traffic Study (1986) done by T.Y. Lin International and Hunter-
                Ballew Associates. These plans call for considerable realignment of the Route 88
                intersection to include a small public park off the southbound lane of Route 1, closing
                up the intersection with Old Route 1 and Providence Street, and creating a new
                intersection at Hartford and Route 1. (See also Route One Study, Falmouth, Maine, by
                Mitchell-Dewan Associates, Terrian Architects and Governmental Services, 1986.)

                Under this plan the two best locations for a pedestrian/bike crossing would be
                adjacent to the proposed public park and islands separating Route 1 and Route 88, or
                at the new intersection at Hartford Avenue. Constructing a pedestrian overpass would
                provide the greatest degree of safety but incur subtantial costs. If a traffic light were
                added to one of these intersections, an actuated phase could allow the controlled
                passage of pedestrians and bicycles.

                The Route 1 Corridor Traffic Study recommends against installing a traffic signals at
                this time. Other options include installing a blinking yellow light or reducing speed
                limit in the area to improve the safety of this crossing. Clear demarcation of the
                crosswalk and appropriate road signage would be minimal measures taken to
                establish this crossing.

                Once pedestrians or bicycles have crossed to the east side of Route 1, they would
                continue south on Route 1, turning left on one of the street options described under the
                Shoreline Drive walkway. Brown Street would provide safest, most direct access for
                pedestrians.

                7. BIKE ROUTE PROPOSAL

                Opportunites also exist to integrate the walkway proposals described above with
                recommendations from with a 1987 bike route analysis, done by GPCOG. This study
                proposed alternatives foc linking the existing Route 1 bike route between Martin's Point
                Bridge and Route 88 with municipal facilities located on Lunt and Depot roads. The
                objective was to avoid the congested business district of Route 1 north of Route 88 and
                to provide a safe and convenient alternative for bicycling between the two areas.

                Heading north on Route 1 past Route 88, the first bike route option would turn left to
                cross one or two commercial properties and then merge with the roadway system of
                the Foreside Estates. The route then would intersect the public Clearwater Drive and

                                                      24

                 follow that road until turning left onto a path to be developed across town-owned
                 property (Map U-52, Lot 5, location of ice (ink) and join the bike route on Depot Road.

                 Option 2 would follow the same route as option 1 except that instead of using the
                 Foreside Estate road system, a path would be developed across a Portland Water
                 District right-of-way from Route 1 to Clearwater Drive.

                 The bike route study also recommends creating a crosswalk either at the Route 88
                 intersection or at the new intersection proposed for Hartford Street.

                 All of these walkway/bikeway proposals that follow Route 1 from the Martin's Point
                 Bridge should share a common path on the route's easterly side (going with the
                 northbound traffic) until a common crossing is made at one of the points described
                 above. The proposed park area created by the realignment of Route 1 at Route 88
                 would create an attractive focal point for pedestrians and the opportunity for a
                 separated path for bicycles and pedestrians.

                 The bike path alternatives also may become important if the walkway options
                 proposed for the Presumpscot Estuary prove unfeasible. From the standpoint of
                 pedestrian access, bikeway option 2 with its proposed path through a utility easement
                 is preferable to use of Foreside Estate roadways. Both alternatives provide an
                 additional pedestrian link from the Presumpscot Estuary walkway to the municipal
                 facilities on Lunt and Depot roads.

                                                        25

                             V. ACCESS TO RIVERS AND INLAND AREAS

                Falmouth has a number of inland waterbodies that have considerable potential for
                public access. For the purposes of this study, two water areas were examined in
                detail: the Presumpscot River and Mill Creek. The Piscataqua River and East Branch
                of the Piscataqua were examined in less detail but deserve more investigation in the
                near future. Highland Lake, because of its high density of residential development
                and general overuse, was deemed to have less potential for expanded public access
                and was not studied. Falmouth's inland open spaces also were surveyed briefly and
                general recommendations were developed for improving public access to these areas.

                                            A. THE PRESUMPSCOT

                1. CONSTRAINTS/1-11MITATIONS

                Steep slopes are the main physical limitation to access on the Presumpscot river.
                Slopes are especially steep between the Smelt Hill Dam and the opening into the
                estuary, with significant outcrops of ledge. Thick vegetation on or near the river bank
                also limits access, although much of this vegetation performs the important function of
                stabilizing bank areas and reducing erosion. Tree falls and bank cave-ins are
                common; uncontrolled public access would in most cases worsen these erosion
                problems.

                Another physical constraint is the dam at Presumpscot Falls located at Smelt Hill,
                which essentially divides the Presumpscot River in Falmouth into two separate
                segments. Boaters must make a difficult portage around these falls and the small
                hydroelectric facility that exists there.

                Nearly all of the frontage on the river is privately owned. Most are single-family
                residences on large land parcels; a number are vacant. The town owns no property
                on the Presumpscot.

                The low density of development on and general underuse of Presumpscot River over
                the years can be partially attributed to poor water quality. Until recently, water was
                characterized by low oxygen levels, odor and brown color and considered unsafe for
                contact recreation and fishing. Since the construction of the Westbrook and S.D.
                Warren treatment facilities, water quality has steadily improved, although occasional
                outfalls and flood conditions create temporary polluted conditions.

                The improvement of the Presumpscot River as a water resource has made land
                fronting it more valuable. Future residential development of these parcels could
                further reduce public access opportunities along the river.
      0

                                                       26

                2. OPPORTUNITIES/POTENTIALS

                With approximately seven miles of shore frontage in Falmouth (including both sides of
                the river), the Presumpscot River presents the town with considerable public access
                opportunities. As mentioned above, improved water quality has made access to this
                resource more desirable.

                Although the town owns no property on the river, a number of large privately owned
                parcels exist that provide potential for future access. (Appendix 3 includes a listing of
                lots over 10 acres on the Presumpcot.) By obtaining easements to cross these
                properties or by acquiring land itself, the town could greatly expand public access to
                the river.

                The State of Maine owns a number of parcels near the Turnpike and Turnpike spur
                that provide direct access to the river. One parcels off Blackstrap Road area has
                considerable potential as a canoe launch site.

                3. IMPROVING AND EXPANDING ACCESS

                Improving Canoe/Boat Access

                By improving the Presumpscot as a route for canoes and other non-motorized boats
                the town can immediately tap into river's vast recreational potential. Traveling
                Falmouth via the Presumpscot offers the canoist a unique view of the town and
                relatively undisturbed natural environment.

                An initial step is to designate and improve canoe launching sites. The Maine Turnpike
                Authority should be contacted regarding use of a parcel it owns at the intersection of
                Blackstrap Road and the Turnpike. The lot (Map R-5, Lot 88) has room for a few
                parked cars near a small outbuilding and provides a direct path down to the river. An
                easement for limited use of this property could be negotiated, allowing the town to
                make minor improvements such as a delineating a small parking area, removing
                overgrown vegetation and replanting to secure the river bank, and undertaking some
                slight grading. Other possible put-in/take out areas include the MTA lot on the other
                side of Blackstrap (Map R-5, Lot 88A), and two relatively large vacant commercially
                zoned lots also near the Blackstrap/Turnpike bridge (Map R-5, Lots 85 and 89).

                As a second step, the town should focus on easing the portage around Smelt Hill
                Dam. Although the topography of river's south bank offers the better portage
                alternative, the existing -small hydro-generating faciltity and its surrounding fencing
                make this portage extremely difficult. The town should contact the present owner of
                the facility to see if a more direct portage across the site is possible. An alternative
                would be to consider the feasibility of a portage around the steeper northern bank. To
                pursue this option, town would need to contact the property owner of the affected
                parcel (Map U-31, Lot 12).

                                                        27

                 After improving canoe put-ins and portage, the town should consider developing
                 additional amenities for recreational use. One option is establishing a series of canoe
                 rest-stops/picnic areas at appropriate points along the river. These sites might include
                 picnic tables and benches, and contain plaques and displays containing facts about
                 the rivers ecology and history. Maine Audubon or other groups may be interested in
                 developing an interpretative guide that could be used by river travelers.

                 Riverfront Park

                 Despite the lack of town-owned land on the Presumpscot, the town may wish to pursue
                 the idea of developing a major park on the river. Such riverside parks already exist in
                 Windham, Westbrook and Portland and provide the public with active and passive
                 recreational opportunities and scenic views of the Presumpscot. With water quality
                 improving, such a park also might provide the town with additional swimming facilties.
                 A more detailed inspection of the Presumpscot is needed before actual sites for
                 swimming can be recommended.

                 As with the Casco Bay Park proposal, the town should first assess interest in and
                 support for this idea through the survey and public meetings. If support is subtantial,
                 the town should pursue property conveyances and access arrangements with owners
                 of large lots along the river.

                 River Walkway

                 Perhaps the most ambitious option for the town is to develop a continous Presumpscot
                 River walkway. A defined path, historically used by hunters and hikers, already exists
                 on segments of the rivers south bank. This path runs mostly through lightly wooded
                 areas on a stable bank that sits well above the floodplain. Stream and drainage
                 swales occasionally break into this path and require periodic crossings.

                 Again, widespread support for this walkway idea is a prerequisite to committed action
                 by the town. Communication with property owners along the river would be the next
                 step. Encouraging owners to grant easements for access along the river may be the
                 best option for the town in this case.

                 The city of Portland currently is considering walkways/access points along the
                 Presumpscot, both at the area southwest of the Falmouth border near the Riverside
                 golf course and within the small notch of land that interrupts Falmouth's otherwise
                 continuous frontage on 1he rivers southern bank. If Falmouth pursues the
                 Presumpscot walkway concept, it should work closely with the city of Portland to
                 coordinate and integrate these trail systems.

                                                          28

                                                 B. MILLCREEK

                1. CONSTRAINTS/LIMITATIONS

                Mill Creek's main physical constraint is its environmental sensitivity. The stream winds
                through marshy floodplain areas underlain by muddy, mucky soils. Uncontrolled
                access could cause considerable erosion and have undesirable effects on the area as
                a wildlife habitat. The stream crosses a number of privately owned parcels, including
                one that separates a town-owned property and a quasi-public area. Existing and
                future commercial development on Route 1 has the potential to restrict access further.

                2. OPPORTUNITIEWPOTENTIALS

                Mill Creek provides an exquisite natural setting in close proximity to densely
                developed areas. The site should be preserved both for its environmental values,
                natural beauty and potential as an area for hiking, viewing and other low-impact
                recreational uses.

                Public access to Mill Creek already exists from the State of Maine Nature Conservancy
                and the town nature preserve. By obtaining access to a number of privately owned
                properties, a continuous band of public access could be created along the stream.

                3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS

                The 1981 Thomas Churchill report recognized Mill Creek as an important site to be
                preserved and developed as a green space to be used for passive and active
                recreation.

                The Churchill report makes the following specific recommendations for Mill Creek:

                1) Town acquisition of of Lot 2B (Map U-13) to allow pedestrian circulation between
                the State of Maine Nature Conservancy and the town nature preserve.
                2) Obtaining an easements on a number of adjacent parcels (Map U-15, Lots 1 and
                1 A) to allow access and provide buffering.
                3) Implementing a number of tree management strategies for the area including
                thinning and weeding of existing tree growth.
                4) Developing a driveway and parking area at the exising sewer easement off
                Foreside Road.
                5) Developing a picnic area and a service road to this area.
                6) Developing a trail system for pedestrians and hikers that includes footbridges and
                nature interpretative areas.
                7) Creating a canoe launch site.

                                                      29

                Estimated costs for making these improvements was $11,510; 1987 costs would be
                closer to $15,000. The town should continue to pursue these options, although actual
                development of walkways and footbridges should be made contingent on the findings
                of the environmental impact study proposed in General Recommendation 6.
                Churchill's recommendation 1 is especially crucial; efforts should be continue to reach
                an accommodation with the owner of this parcel.

                The town also should seriously consider changing the Shoreland Zoning of most of
                Mill Creek to Resource Protection. Doing this would give the stream added protection
                against future residential and commercial developement and ensure that an adequate
                corridor is maintained on either side of the waterbody.

                     C. PISCATAQUA AND EAST BRANCH OF PISCATAQUA RIVERS

                1. CONSTRAINTS/1-11MITATIONS

                Access to these two rivers is limited somewhat by steep banks, marshiness, overgrown
                vegetation and shallowness. Frontage along the rivers is mostly privately owned.
                Single-family homes on large lots predominate although a number of lots are vacant.
                Pressures to develop some of this prime land will continue to mount and opportunities
                to preserve or secure public access may be lost.

                2. OPPORTUNITIEWPOTENTIALS

                These rivers are underutilized but have considerable potential for public access and
                recreational use. Falmouth has approximately 11 miles of frontage on the Piscataqua
                and about 6.5 on the East Branch of the Piscataqua. Both rivers have excellent water
                quality that is well above the standards for contact recreation and fishing.

                Both of these rivers wind through relatively undeveloped land characterized by large
                lot sizes. As some of these large parcels are developed, the town during the project
                review process will have considerable opportunities to press for the dedication of
                public access points or walkway areas.

                Although the recent Falmouth property tax revaluation may cause some landowners to
                consider subdividing their land, others may be more receptive to conservation
                easements, current use assessments and other conveyance options that reduce tax
                loads while keeping large parcels intact.

                The town owns three parcels on the Piscataqua, all in -the vicinity of the river's
                intersection with Falmouth Road (Map U-41, Lots 7,14. and 16).      Shallow depths
                preclude canoe access but viewing, fishing and other recreational opportunities exist.

                Town or State Roads that cross the Piscataqua include Mill Road, Leighton Road, the
                Gray Road, Falmouth Road and Hurricane Road. The Mill Road and Leighton Road
                crossing provide excellent access to the river.

                                                        30

                                                                                                R,,,QQQQQ,,N,
                                                                                        oz,

                 Although the town does not own any significant parcels on the East Branch of the
                 Piscataqua, the Falmouth Conservation Trust owns an attractive 47-acre lot northeast
                 of the rivers intersection with Falmouth Road. (Map R-5, Lot 30A.) The Trust may be
                 amenible to a number of public access improvements at this site. Town or State
                 Roads that cross the East Branch include Falmouth Road, Field Road and Woodville
                 Road.

                 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS

                 Riverfront parks and public walkways both are possibilities for these rivers: assessing
                 the actual desirability of these projects will require public input from the survey and
                 other hearings as well as additional study of these river areas.

                 The town should seriously consider the development of a public park area on the
                 Piscataqua River off Mill Road. The two adjacent town owned parcels offer space for
                 parking and park facilities (Map U-40, Lots 13 and 16). Two old mill buildings on
                 adjacent privately owned lots have potential to be converted into a museum or nature
                 center. In addition, long, narrow town parcel near the intersection of Falmouth and
                 Winn Roads (Map U-41, Lot 7) provides a direct accessway to the river. Possible
                 improvements to this site should be investigated.

                 The town should enhance opportunities for canoe access on the East Branch of the
                 Piscataqua in areas where water depth is sufficient. Although the Falmouth
                 Conservation Trust parcel is the most obvious location for possible recreational
                 improvements, other sites should be investigated as well. Most of the road crossings
                 over the river provide excellent access.

                 D. ACCESS TO INLAND OPEN SPACES

                 1. CONSTRAINTS AND LIMITATIONS

                 While the strong Maine tradition of private land ownership remains strong, attitudes
                 regarding public access over private have changed markedly in recent years.
                 Historically, Maine landowners tolerated or even welcomed the public's access to
                 resoures areas, scenic vista and open spaces on their property. Today the tendency is
                 toward restricting access or prohibiting it altogether.

                 Despite being privately owned, much of Falmouth remains undeveloped; in 1987
                 vacant land alone accounted for nearly half of all acreage in the town. This doesn't
                 even take into account large lots with one single-family home. And in rural areas like
                 West Falmouth the ratio of undeveloped to developed land is much higher.

                 The town itself already owns a number of large undeveloped land parcels.
                 The Town Forest, off Woodville Road, properties on Hadlock, Hurricane, Hardy and
                 Blackstrap roads and backlots off Hadlock and Longwoods roads account for over 100
                 acres of land.

                                                         31

                 As the open space inventory in Appendix 1 indicates, Falmouth also has a well
                 developed system of public parks and facilites that offer recreational opportunities and
                 potential linkages between open space areas.

                 2. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING ACCESS

                 Property Survey and Open Space Assessment

                 Before considering the acquisition of additional open space, the town should inventory
                 the land it already owns or has access to, and determine whether these properties
                 should be developed as recreational areas. A listing of town-owned property is
                 included in,Appendix 1.

                 The town also should identify particularly unique or valuable physical features or
                 natural resource areas in Falmouth that warrant preservation or deserve careful
                 development as community assets. Such features might include significant hills or
                 ridge areas, wetlands, smaller streams and ponds, unusual geological formations,
                 sensitive or unique wildlife habitats, critical areas and scenic vistas. A number of
                 these resources are already listed in the comprehensive plan data base. The value
                 citizens place on particular features or resources can be assessed from the public
                 access survey.

                 Once the importance of particular open spaces/physical features are well established,
                 the town should begin taking steps to ensure their preservation or access to the public.
                 Property conveyance and access arrangements can tie pursued with landowners. In
                 some cases, the town should consider swapping town-owned parcels for others it
                 wishes to acquire. Timely sale of town owned parcels; also can be used to increase
                 and maintain the town's public access/open space fund.

                 Develop Greenbelt Plan

                 The issue of access to and the linkage between recreational land areas in Falmouth
                 was given only preliminary analysis as part of this study. The map accompanying this
                 study implies a considerable amount of potential for open space access and
                 interconnections.

                 It is suggested that the Falmouth Comprehensive Plan Committee or an assigned
                 subcommittee develop an open space plan for the town, focusing on developing one
                 or more greenbelts thatlink open space, park and recreational areas. This plan
                 should, whereever possible, complement and build on the recommendations of this
                 public access study.

                 The committee or subcommittee should involve the Falmouth Conservation Trust, the
                 Recreation Department, the Conservation Commission, Maine Audubon and other
                 interested local groups in this planning process.

                                                          32

                Even preliminary consideration of a greenbelt system for Falmouth uncovers one
                important finding: three major utility rights-of-way traverse the town, all in a north to
                south direction. These rights-of- way provide extensive linkages between rivers,
                proposed walkways and public lands. These pathways presently are used for cross-
                country skiing and snowmobiling.

                Because of these existing north-south routes, the town in developing its greenbelt plan
                should concentrate on securing east-west linkages. The Piscataqua River and its
                associated floodplain has potential to serve as one of these corridors across the width
                of the town.

                Improve and Expand Bike Routes.

                Bike routes provide recreational opportunities, allow interconnections between parks
                and recreational areas and promote an option to the automobile. Falmouth already
                has an existing system of bike routes, and Section III and IV of this report proposed
                some alternate bike routes.

                The public access map accompanying this report indicates additional bike routes
                proposed by the Falmouth Town Manager. One route follows Middle Road north from
                the existing bikeway on Lunt Road, turns west on Woods Road, south on Woodville
                Road and left on the Falmouth Road, following,it west until the Maine Turnpike
                underpass. Another route turns south off the Falmouth Road onto the Leighton Road,
                intersecting with Brook Street and following it to the town line.

                Besides adequate demarcation, this new route will require in many places road
                widening to accommodate a bike lane. During any reconstruction on Falmouth's
                secondary or connector roads, it is recommended that bicycle lanes be added.
                Falmouth also should press the Maine Department of Transportation to add bicycle
                lanes on Blackstrap and the Gray Road.

                More bicycle routes should be added once the town's greenbelt plan is better
                formalized. One route with particular scenic potential is the triangular loop formed by
                upper Woodville Road, upper Winn Road and Field Road. This route travels through
                gently rolling agricultural land with expansive vistas and two river crossings.

                                                       33

                VI. TECHNIQUES FOR PRESERVING AND SECURING PUBLIC ACCESS

                A wide range of options exists for communities and conservation groups interested in
                preserving and expanding public access to the coast, esturies, rivers, lakes and other
                natural resources areas. Below is a brief summary of some of these techniques. For a
                more detailed explanation of landowner options, see tile state publication, The
                Landowner's Option.: A Guide to the Voluntary Protection of Land in Maine, 1981.

                PROPERTY CONVEYANCE AND ACCESS-ARRANGEMENT OPTIONS

                Following are a series of techniques and procedures termed throughout this report as
                11property conveyance and access arrangements." These options generally involve
                modifications to land ownership rights, usually made voluntarily by the owner or
                developer. The modifications encouraged in this instance are geared toward
                encouraging owners of water frontage and other desirable properties to transfer their
                land to a governmental body or conservation agency, or toward preserving or securing
                public access to or over property.

                It is the responsibility of the town or assigned group to contact the landowner and
                communicate the full range of options available. Some of these options can also be
                offered during project reviews to promote the preservation or improvement of public
                access in new projects.

                DONATION

                Donation is usually the first option that should be pursued with a landowner. People
                donate property for a number of reasons: because they want the land to be enjoyed by
                the public at large, because they they think the town or a conservation group is better
                able to protect and manage the property in the long run, or because they seek relief
                from property taxes.

                Although donors often act out of sheer generosity, donation is not without its financial
                compensations. In cases where the recipient of the gift is a government body or
                qualified charitable donation, the donor can claim an income tax deduction of a high
                percentage of the fair market value of the property.

                A number of donation options are available that can give the landowner added
                flexibility. In a donation by devise, a landowner leaves the property as a gift in a
                will and retains full use and control of the property until his or her death. Although the
                landowner must continue paying property taxes during life, a donation by device
                removes the value of the property from consideration of the estate tax.

                Landowners may also choose to make a donation with reserved estate --
                donating the land immediately yet retaining use of all or part of the land during the
                lifetime of them or other designated persons. The giftwould qualify as a charitiable
                contribution and, if the property is passed directly to the town or designated
                landholding organization, no estate tax on the property is paid.

                                                           34

                 LAND ACQUISITION

                 The simplest, most direct way to ensure access to or over a piece of property is to buy
                 it outright. Purchase usually removes most questions regarding access to or use of
                 land. Major issues become maintenance, liability, physical improvements and the
                 extent of access to be allowed.

                 Owners should be made aware of the different sale options available to them. Some
                 of these options reduce the profit they can make on the transfer. But the reduced price
                 allows the land to be purchased by a public agency or organization committed to
                 preserving the property or allowing public access. And in many cases, these options
                 include tax benefits that help compensate for financial losses.

                 Selling at fair market price -- at the fully appraised value -- is the most common
                 type of land transfer. Liability for income tax on capital gains, however, can
                 significantly reduce the overall profit from the sale.

                 In a bargain sale, land is sold at less than the fair market price. This lower price may
                 make it possible for the land to be purchased by the town or a private group interested
                 in its future use or conservation. The bargain seller gets partial compensation by
                 paying less in capital gains and by being able to can claim the difference between the
                 bargain price and fair market value as a charitable contribution.

                 An installment sale involves an agreement between the property owner and the
                 purchaser where the purchaser either pays for the land in annual installements or
                 buys a portion of the land each year. This type of arrangement makes land purchase
                 far easier for a town or other organization since the installments can be budgeted over
                 time. In installment sales, the seller and the buyer must negotiate terms regarding the
                 actual use of the land and liability for taxes during the course of the sale.

                 As with donation, sale of a property can take place with a reserved life estate -- in other
                 words, an agreement where the owner or family members can continue to live on
                 property sold to the town or a conservation agency.

                 TRANSFER WITH CONDITIONS

                 Some landowners may be hesitant to donate or sell property because of fears about
                 how the property will be used in the future. Landowners may agree to the land transfer
                 if a number of conditions are attached, such as the provision the land will not be
                 developed or that public access to or over their property will be retained or permitted.

                 Before selling a property a landowner also may wish to grant a conservation easement
                 regulating the future use of the property (see below). If granting this easement results
                 in a reduction in the market value of the land, the landowner may deduct a portion of
                 this loss as a charitable contribution for income tax purposes.

                                                          35

                 Deed restrictions are restrictive convenants placed in the deed at the time of
                 property transfer. Although these restrictions can be silmiliar to easements, they
                 generally are less permanent and less enforceable. Reductions in value of property
                 due to deed restrictions are not tax deductible.

                 Despite their limitations, deed restrictions can be used to preserve or enhance public
                 access. Before conveying a property, a landowner can be encouraged to write into the
                 deed provisions affirming the public right to cross or use a portion of the land. A better
                 use of deed restrictions, perhaps, would be for the town or conservation agency to
                 suggest possible deed restrictions in order to make an owner of a valuable frontage lot
                 more amenible to a land transfer.

                 RESTRICTIONS

                 A transfer of title is not always necessary secure public access to or over a property.
                 In some cases the town or conservation group can convince a property owner to grant
                 a conservation easement in which he or she voluntarily sets permanent conditions
                 on the future use of the land. Although the owner can still use and even sell the land,
                 the property remains subject to the terms of the easement.

                 The easement can be tailored to fit the landowner's particular situation and concerns.
                 It could require that land be left as "forever wild" or allow limited residential
                 development, farming or managed timer harvesting. The easement also could be
                 limited to a portion of the property -- an accessway, for instance.

                 If a conservation easement is granted, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure
                 that the present and future owners abide by the covenants set forth in the easement.
                 Although the easement constitutes a "loss" of some of -the rights of ownership to the
                 land and may cause a reduction in the property's market value, some of this loss can
                 be deducted as a charitable donation.

                 Another type of restriction is involved with current use assessment. Landowners
                 whose land is used for tree growth, farming or open space may make a formal request
                 for a reduced tax assessment based on their land's current use rather than its fair
                 market price.

                 To be classified as open space, the land must fall into one or more of the following
                 categories: 1) State wildlife and management areas, sanctuaries and preserves, 2)
                 land that conserves scenic resources, 3) land that enhances public recreational
                 opportunities, or 4) land-that promotes game management or preserves wildlife. No
                 acreage limitation exists.

                 Once the land is classified under the current use laws, its valuation for tax purposes
                 cannot reflect its development potential. Since factors such as shore frontage
                 cannot be used in valuing classified land, current use assessment may
                 be an especially interesting option to landowners with on or near the
                 shore frontage who wish to reduce their tax load.

                                                          36

               LEASING

               By securing a long-term lease from a landowner a governmental body or conservation
               agency can have exclusive use of the land for a given number of years, during which
               time public access to and over the land can be allowed. Certain restrictions on the use
               of the property may be incorporated into the lease; in many cases these conditions can
               be propsed to make the property owner more agreeable to the lease. And periodic
               rental payments may give the town or organization more funding flexibility.

               FIRST OPTION STATUS

               First option status merely involves an agreement whereby a landowner gives the town
               or conservation agency the first chance to buy his or her property when or if it goes on
               the market. This arrangement allows "first dibs" on a properties with coastal frontage
               or some other valuable attribute.

               The town or conservation group may also get the landowner to agree on a price at
               which the property will be offered, with provisions incorporated to account for inflation
               and changing market value.

               OBTAINING ACCESS IN THE PROJECT REVIEW PROCESS

               Considerable opportunities exist for protecting or improving public access during the
               review of new subdivisons and other projects. The Planning Board, for instance, can
               encourage a developer to consider restrictions, conditions or land conveyances in the
               proposed subdivision that will preserve or improve public access.

               The State through the Subdivision Law and other legislation affirms the right of
               communities to preserve public access to the shoreline. State law is ambiguous on
               whether a community can exact public access or in- lieu payments from a developer
               proposing a project on or near a water area. Until a test case occurs, the safest tact is
               for a community to encourage and negotiate for improved public access.

               As recommended in Section 11, including in the Comprehensive Plan specific policies
               and recommendations on improving public access, is helpful in guiding town boards
               and backing up town public-access policies if they are challenged. Having a strong
               public purpose statement also allows the town to be ready to take more aggressive
               approaches if the state passes more definitive legislation or the courts uphold public
               access exactions.

               Falmouth should consider adding language on public assess to its subdivision and
               zoning ordinane. In the subdivision ordinance, general language promoting,public
               access should be added to the Guidelines section and to the General Requirements

                                                      37

                section. In the zoning ordinance, preservation of public access should be as added as
                a criterion to the Site Plan Review Standards. The town also should consider adding
                public access definitions and minimum performance standards governing the design
                and scope of accessways.

                Both in site plan and subdivision review, the town could require the submission of a
                separate public access component that describes the proposed project's impact on
                public access/recreational demand and supply, and includes a plan to preserve and
                improve public access.

                The town also should consider adding into its zoning ordinance an incentive provision
                for public access. The provision, for example, would allow developers to increase the
                density of a proposed project or modify required setbacks if public access to or over
                the site is permitted. The provision also should include a set of performance standards
                governing the nature, scope, configuration and maintenance of public accessways.

                With strong purpose statements regarding public access in the comprehensive plan,
                and general and specific access provisions in land-use ordinances, the Planning
                Board should be ready to work with closely and aggressively with developers and
                landowners to preserve existing accessways and incorporate additional public access
                into project designs.

                The planning board's position is strongest when negotiating with developers to
                preserve existing or historic access. The Maine Muncipal Associations suggests that
                access for 20 or more years would probably qualify as historic access with vested
                public rights. Even when pursuing less well-documented rights-of way, the planing
                board has a clear legislative mandate from the state to preserve and protect public
                access to coastal areas.

                                                       38

                VII. APPENDICES

                                                  APPENDIX 1

               1. INVENTORY OF EXISTING           PUBLIC ACCESS AND OPEN SPACE
               AREAS
               A. Inventory of public coastal access areas
                 1. Town-owned, public ROWs
                  a. Town Landing
                     (1) Approx. .4 acres
                     (2) Contains paved boat ramp and dock, pier
                     (3) Most accessible, most used facility in town
                     (4) Two parking lots: capacity 50 cars, 6 trailers
                     (5) Mooring controlled by Harbor Master
                     (6) Swimming unsafe b/c of boat traffic
                     (7) Adjacent sandy beach privately owned -- informal swimming and sunbathing
                         occurs
                  b. Waites Landing Road
                     (1) Apparent right-of-way to beach just north of terminus
                     (2) No parking, no sanitary facilities
                     (3) Area association discourages use
                     (4) Private land borders beach, catwalk to beach private
                  C. Mussel Cove, off Old Mill Road
                     (1) 50-foot right-of-way to water
                     (2) Access to mudflats, not deep water except high tide
                     (3) No facilities, no parking
                     (4) New private residence discourages use
                2. State-owned
                  a. Mackworth Island
                     (1) 8 acres.
                     (2) Hiking trail, playground, Little League field, beach area
                     (3) Site of Baxter School for the Deaf
                     (4) School managed by Dept. of Education & Cultural Services
                     3. Private non-profit
                  a. Gilsland Farm
                     (1) 70 acres
                     (2) Nature center, walking trails, cross-country skiing, picnicing
                     (3) HQ of Maine Audubon Society

                                                      39

                                                                                          Z

               B. Inventory of town-owned open space and recreational areas
                  1. Community Parks
                    a. Pine Grove Park.
                       (1) 27 acres
                       (2) Bike Trails, picnicing
                    b. Falmouth High School
                       (1) 70 acres
                       (2) Baseball, Little League, softball fields; soccer', multi-purpose fields; tennis
                          courts
                    c. Plummer-Motz Complex
                       (1) 27 acres
                       (2) Playgrounds, soccer, Little League fields
                    d. Town Nature Preserve
                       (1) 12 acres
                       (2) Hiking Trail
                    e. State of Maine Nature Conservancy
                 2. Neighborhood Parks
                    a. Graves School
                       (1) 7 acres
                       (2) Playground area
                    b. Engine 2 Park
                       (1) 1 acre
                    C. Lunt Road Park
                       (1) 1 acre
                    d. Huston School
                       (1) 4 acres
                       (2) Skating, playground, Little League field
                    e. Twombley Skating Rink
                       (1) 11 acres
                       (2) Skating, basketball courts
                 3. Other town-owned parcels
                    a. Highland Lake Landing
                       (1) Less than an acre
                       (2) Dirt ramp, picnic table
                    b. Town Forest
                       (1) 15 acres
                       (2) Undeveloped

                                                       40

                                                           z    Ob Z @@Z' 1,11z,

                   c. Hadlock Road
                     (1) 32 acres acres
                     (2) Undeveloped
                   d. Hurricane Road
                     (1) 28 acres
                     (2) Undeveloped
                   e. Blackstrap Road
                     (1) 8.3 acres
                     (2) Undeveloped
                   f. Hardy Road (Former dump)
                     (1) 18 acres
                     (2) Undeveloped

               C. Inventory of other open space areas
                   1. Falmouth Conservation Trust
                   a. Ownes 48-acre parcel on Falmouth Road
                2. Utility and other right-of-ways
                   a. Maine Central Power transmission lines
                   b. Maine Central Railroad tracks
                   c. Portland Water District
                   d. Other Town ROWs
                3. Other State-owned land
                   a. MDOT properties near 295 and state-funded roads
                   b. Maine Turnpike Authority properties near Turnpike and Turnpike Spur
                   c. Maine Department of Recreation property on Highland Lake
                4. Private recreational areas/Limited public access
                   a. American Legion Field
                     (1) 11 acres
                     (2) Baseball, Little League and softball field, tennis courts
                   b. Falmouth Rod and Gun Club
                     (1) 75 acres
                   c. Portland Country Club
                     (1) 70 acres
                     (2) Tennis courts, platform tennis courts, 18-hole golf course, driving range,
                        cross-country skiing
                   d. Hurricane Ski Slope
                   e. Poplar Ridge Ski Slope
                   f. Hurricane Valley Stables
                     (1) 25 acres
                     (2) Riding trails, ind6or and outdoor rings
                   g. Pegasus Stable
                     (1) 40 acres
                   h. Whispering Pines Stable
                     (1) 52 acres
                     (2) Riding trails

                                                     41

                                   Z
                                            6 Z,

                   i. Breazy Hill Stable
                      (1) 75 acres
                      (2) Riding trails
                   j. Portland Yacht Club
                      (1) 5 acres
                      (2) Paved boat ramp, dock moorings
                   k. Tennis of Maine
                      (1) 8 acres
                      (2) Tennis courts
                   1. Handy Boat Service
                      (1) 2 acres
                      (2) Travel lifts, moorings, dock, boat storage

                                                         42

                                                      APPENDIX 2

                                            FALMOUTH PARCEL SIRVEY

                 Ocean Frontage

                 MAP    U-1     (LOTS1 02,102A TO 102J,l 03,127,128,1 37,139,140,140A,l 61)
                 MAP    U-2     (LOTS 1,lA,2,3,3A,4,5,6,7,7A,15,34,34A,,34A-1)
                 MAP    U-3     (LOTS 3,4,5,5A)
                 MAP    R-2     (LOTS1,1 D,4)
                 MAP    U-5     (LOTS 1,2,6,7,8,9,10,12,13)
                 MAP    U-6     (LOTS 1, 1 A, 1 B, 1 E,3,4,6)
                 MAP    U-8     (LOTS 1,3,3A,3A-1),
                 MAP    U-9     (LOTS 1,2,3,3A,22,23,24,25,26,28,29,30,32,34,35,38)
                 MAP    U-1 0   (LOTS 1,2A,2B,3,3A,4)
                 MAP    U-1 4   (LOTS 15,20C,20D,22,23,24,26,27,37,39A,39C,40, 40B,40C)
                 MAP    U-1 6   (LOTS 44,45,49,56,57,60A,62,63,70,71,EIOA-1,83,85,86A,87,88,91 -A)
                 MAP    U-1 7   (LOTS 3,3A,39,40,52,53B,60A,61,62,66) ALSO CHECK 63,64,65
                 MAP    U-1 8   (LOTS 8,913, 1 0,25,29,30,34,57,58,58A)

                 Presumpscot Estuary Frontage

                 MAP    U-1     (LOTS1 62,163,163A,l 65,177,178,179,180,181,182,183,184,
                                185,186,187,202,215,215B,215C)
                 MAP    R-2     (LOTS 6,6A,7,7A,7C,7D) ALSO CHECK 7A &7B
                 MAP    U-4     (LOTS 33,34,35,47,48,48A,54) ALSO CHECK 3,3A,3B,48,49,53
                 MAP    U-51    (LOT 1) ALSO CHECK 1 E,2,4,5
                 MAP    R-2     (LOTS 9A,9B)
                 MAP    U-29    (LOTS 12,16,17) ALSO CHECK ll,13,14.,14A,14B,15,19

                 Presumpscot River Frontage

                 MAP    U-29    (LOTS 20,20A,20B,21,25) ALSO CHECK PWD R/W
                 MAP    U-30    (LOTS 5,6,7,8) CHECK N.E.TEL. R/W
                 MAP    U-31    (LOTS 8,11,12)
                 MAP    U-32    (LOTS 13S,13T,13Y,29,29B,31,58,58A,58C,58D,58E)
                 MAP    U-33    (LOTS 1-1,2,2A,8) ALSO CHECK 3 & N.E. TEL. R/W
                 MAP    R-4     (LOTS 2,7,8,9,9A, 11, 13,18,20,?,74,80,81 A)
                 MAP    R-5     (LOTS 4,24,24A,24C,43A,47,50,51,55A,.':-)5B,55E,76,76A,76B,
                                85,87,88,88A,89)
                 MAP    U-47    (LOTS 23,25)
                 MAP    U-48    (LOTS 16,22,23) CHECK CMP R/W
                 MAP    U-50    (LOTS 2,6A, 10, 11, 14)

                                                            43

               Mill Creek Frontage

               MAP U- 13 (LOTS 2,5)
               MAP U-1 5 (LOTS 1, 1 A,2,3)

               East Piscataqua River Frontage

               MAP R-3 (LOTS 3,15,15A,19,20,21,22,25,33C,66,7@4B,74C,75,80,82,85)
               MAP R-5 (LOTS 24C,26,27,30,30A,33,34,38,39,40A,43)
               MAP U-40 (LOT 5A)

               Piscataqua River Frontage

               MAP R-6      (LOTS 86,87,87A,90,90B,91)
               MAP U-40     (LOT 1,5A,3T,8,11,13,14,16,17,18
               MAP U-41     (LOT 4,6,6A,6B,7,8,9)
               MAP U-42     (LOT 1,7,8,9,10,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,,37,37B,37C)
               MAP U-43     (LOT 1,2,3,4,5)
               MAP U-44     (LOT 1, 11)

               Highland   Lake Frontage

               MAP   HL-1   (LOTS 1-1, 5,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14,14A, 17,19,21,21 A,22,22A)
               MAP   HL-2   (LOTS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
               MAP   HL-3   (LOTS 4A,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,17jk,1 8,19,20,@1,22,23,25,31,33)
               MAP   HL-4   (LOTS 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,14,16,17,1,B,20,21 B,22,22A,23,24A,25)
               MAP   HL-5   (LOTS 7,8,9,10,11,12)
               MAP   HL-6   (LOTS 1,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,lE;,17,19,20,21,22,24,25,
                            26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,,49)
               MAP   HL-7   (LOTS 1, 1 A, 1 B,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14)

                                                    44

                                                                          'Z@ z

                                                       APPENDIX 3

                               LARGE LOTS WITH FRONTAGE ON WATER AREAS

                 LOTS OVER 5 ACRES FRONTING THE COAST

                 ACREAGE               ADDRESS                  OWNER                     MAP      LOT   ZONE

                 142              11 FORESIDE RD.              PORTLAND C.C.              R-2      4     RC1
                 49               17 FORESIDE RD.              OTIS, V.                   R-2      1     RC
                 25-              143 FORESIDE RD.             PAYSON, C.S.               U-10     3     RAl
                 22.5  (VAC)      71 FORESIDE RD.              ROCKEFELLER, R.G.          U-8      1     RC
                 12.6             14 MENIKOE PT. LN.           PAYSON (NELSON?)           U-6      3     RC
                 10))             BAYSIDE LANE                 CONDOS                     U-18     10    RAl
                 9.0              157 FORESIDE RD.             RANDALL, E.S.              U-10     1     RAl
                 8.8              48 THORNHURST PT.            PAYSON, E.                 U-8      3A    RC
                 7.2              ELM DRIVE                    HILDRETH, A.D.             U-6      1     RC
                 6.8              71 FORESIDE RD.              ROCKEFELLER, R.G.          U-8      1A    RC
                 6.7              40 THORNHURST PT.            ARMSTRONG,R.               U-6      3     RC
                 6.4              189 FORESIDE RD.             FSIDE RD REALTY TR.        U-1 4    37A   RAl
                 5.5              227 FORESIDE RD.             LORD                       U-1 6    88    RAl
                 5.2              191 FORESIDE RD.             FRSID RD REALTY TR.        U-1 4    37    RAl
                 5.1 (VAC)        ELM DRIVE                    PAYSON,M.                  U-6      1B    RC

                 LOTS OVER 5 ACRES FRONTING THE PRESUMPSCOT ESTUARY

                 ACREAGE ADDRESS                           OWNER                        MAP        LOT   ZONE

                 47.1          OFF CLEARWATER DR. FORESIDE ESTATE                       U-51       1     R132
                 30.8          ROUTE1                        FORESIDE COMMON            R-2        6     RA3
                 20(VAC)       OFF ROUTE 1                  CHAN KIN WAI                R-2        9A    RA3
                 16(VAC)       E/S MIDDLE RD.              TIRRELL, RW                  R-4        35B   RA4
                 14(VAC)       127 MIDDLE RD.               MCINTOSH, J.                U-29       16    RA3
                 12(VAC)       E/S MIDDLE RD.               ALEXANDER, G.G.             R-4        35C   RA4
                 7             E/S MIDDLE RD.               ALEXANDER, G.G.             R-4        33    RA4
                 5             E/S MIDDLE RD.               KNIGHT, R.P.                R-4        45B   RA4

                                                             45

                LOTS OVER 10 ACRES FRONTING THE PRESUMPSCOT RIVER

                ACREAGE         ADDRESS               OWNER                    MAP    LOT    ZONE
                48(VAC)    28 ALLEN AVE. EXT.        ADAM, R.L.                R-4    74     RA4
                41         63 GRAY RD.               WALKER, D.A.              R-5    43     COMM1
                33(VAC)    W/S FALMOUTH RD.          MOORE, R.L.               R-4    2      RB2
                33(VAC)    W/S FALMOUTH RD.          WHITNEY, E.B.             R-5    24     F&F3
                33         49 PLEASANT RD.           CLEAVES, B.N              U-33   8      RA4
                30.5       25A GRAY RD.              GOODALL, G.W. JR.         R-5    55B    RA5
                30(VAC)    E/S BLACKSTRAP RD.        MATHIEU, R.R.             R-5    85     COMM1
                24.4       OFF B/S BROOK RD.         CHASE, F.W.               U-56   2      RB3
                20         210 FALMOUTH RD.          LIGHTBODY, N.K.           R-4    7      RB2
                18(VAC)    N/S ALLEN AVE EXT.        REICHE, H.C.              R-4    81 A   RA4
                18         186 FALMOUTH RD.          STOCKLEY, A.H.            R-4    13     RB2
                18(VAC)    W/S ALLEN AVE. EXT.       MANNING, R.B.             R-4    76     RA4
                16(VAC)    W/S ALLEN AVE EXT.        MCCANN, V.                R-4    80     RA4
                13.7       W/S GRAY RD.              HAMLIN SAND & GRAV.       R-5    47     COMM1
                13.5       OFF E.S. BROOK RD.        DEV. OF AUSTIN, E.        U-56   11     RB3
                12         W/S FALMOUTH RD.          DOIL, K.L.                R-4    20     RB2
                11         196 FALMOUTH RD.          GURLEY, J.T.              R-4    11     RB2
                11  (VAC)  E/S BLACKSTRAP RD.        HEIRS OF PRIDE, L.E.      R-5    89     COMM1
                9.5        S/S BROOK RD.             BAKER,RA.                 U-56   6A     RB3

                                                       46

                                                   APPENDIX 4

                                  Falmouth Access Study: Literpture Search

                   Falmouth Plans and Studies

                 - Comprehensive Plan. Town of Falmouth, Maine. 19,81.
                 - Falmouth Parcel Study. Thomas Churchill Company. October 1980.
                 - Route One Study, Falmouth, Maine. Mitchell-DeWan Associates, Terrien Architects,
                   Governmental Services, Inc. September 1986.
                 - Route 1 Corridor Traffic Study. T.Y. Lin/Hunter-Ballew Associates. March 1986.
                   Town of Falmouth Alternative Bike Route. Study by Greater Portland Council of
                   Governments. March 1987.

                   Regional Plans and Studies

                   Cumberland County Municipal Coastal Public Access Inventory (Draft). Greater
                   Portland Council of Governments. May 1987.
                 -Outdoor Recreation: Inventory and Analysis of Needs for Greater Portland. Greater
                   Portland Council of Governments. August 1981.
                 - Open Space and Recreation Plan. Greater Portland Council of Governments. June
                   1972.
                 - The Presumpscot River Study. Greater Portland Council of Governments. 1978.
                 - Area Wide Water Quality Plan. Volume II. Greater Portland Council of Governments.
                   November 1977.
                 - Planning Department Report: Presumpscot River Study and City of Portland Plans.
                   (Report #35-75) June 1975.
                 -State of Maine 1986 Water Quality Assessment Maine Department of
                   Environmental Protection.

                 Public Access/Open Space Plans and Studies for other Greater
                 Portland Communities

                 - Cumberland Coastal Access Study. Wright-Pierce Engineers and Architects.
                   September 1979.
                 - Recreational Areal0pen Space Study and Linkage Plan: South Portland, Maine.
                   Mitchell-DeWan Associates. 1979.
                 - Spring Point Shoreway Study. Mitchell-DeWan Associates. 1978.
                 - Yarmouth Open Space Survey. Yarmouth Long Range Planning Committee. 1985.

                                                       47

                                                   APPENDIX 5

                             Public Access and Open Space G )als and Policies

                1. Maintain and expand public access to coastal areas.

                    a. Upgrade existing coastal access facilities to maximize multiple uses, parking
                       capabilities, and safety.
                    b. Expand existing access to coastal areas by securing additional land, easements
                       and public rights-of-way.
                    c. Promote the development of a coastal walkway system.

                2. Protect scenic view corridors to coastal and inland areas.

                    a. Develop an on-going inventory of existing view corridors.
                    b. Promote the long-term protection of scenic views by identifying and publicizing
                       visual corridors throughout the community.
                    c. Seek to preserve or enhance visual corridors wherever possible in the review of
                       new projects.

                3. Expand access to inland water areas.

                    a. Pursue opportunities for developing public access/recreational areas on the
                       Presumpscot River/Estuary.
                    b. Improve public access and make physical improvements in Mill Creek area.
                    c. Investigate expanded access/recreational opportunities for other inland
                       waterbodies, including the East Branch of the Piscataqua River, the Piscataqua
                       River and Highland Lake.

                4. Promote linkages between parks, open spaces and public access
                    ways.

                    a. Promote linkages, between the coastal walkway system and inland and river
                       public access points.
                    b. Promote "greenbelts" between inland open spaces.
                    c. Foster land management and recreational approaches that treat Falmouth's
                       open space and public accessways as an integrated whole.

                                                        48

               5. Pursue a calculated policy of land and easement acquisition to protect
                  and expand open space, public access and scenic views.

                   a. Appropriate significant annual expenditures to an open space/public access
                      fund.
                   b. Implement the town's open space/public access program with a variety of
                      approaches that include actively seeking first-option status and land and
                      easement donations, in addition to outright purchase of land and conservation
                      easements.
                   c. Coordinate with and support the efforts of the Falmouth Land Trust and
                      statewide organizations such as Maine Coast Heritage.
                   d. Encourage private sector involvement in Falmouth's open space and public
                      access program, including providing incentives for incorporation of access and
                      open space in new developments.

                                                     49

                                                                                                                          NOAA COASTAL SERVICES CTR LIBRARY

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