By Stowell P. Watters

Staff Writer

The 110 undeveloped acres that make up Timber Point in Biddeford are available for purchase and conservation groups in Biddeford and Kennebunkport are both jumping at the opportunity.

 “I don’t think you can name another parcel of land along our coast that is so large and beautiful,” said Kennebunkport Conservation Trust (KCT) Director Tom Bradbury. “This is an extremely rare opportunity.”

With 2.25 miles of undeveloped coastline, the Timber Point area is home to migratory waterfowl as well as a nesting and breeding sites for shorebirds, said Bradbury. He also said the waterways surrounding the Timber Point grounds support a lobster nursery in the Little River water shed.

“This is a marvelous resource that essentially defines the eastern shore of our Goose Rocks Beach,” he said.

Recently the members of the family trust that owns the property have agreed to sell the land to the federal government for $7 million – half of the property’s assessed value for conservation purposes. If approved, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would provide $3.5 million for the acquisition – the rest would need to be raised by private organizations such as the KCT.

The first step is for organizations to show their support for the federal portion of the purchase by sending letters of support to Maine congressional delegates, said KCT Treasurer and Kennebunkport Selectman Michael Weston. The first of such letters of support was delivered by the Kennebunkport Selectmen following the Feb. 28 meeting.

“I think this is a no-brainer, I cannot imagine any objection to it,” Weston said. His comments were followed by the unanimous approval of the letter of support.

Groups in Biddeford are also lending their support to the acquisition of Timber Point. Mayor Joanne Twomey said she personally sent a letter to Washington D.C.

“I absolutely support saving any land we can,” Twomey said.

 Biddeford Conservation Comission Chairman Denis Rioux said while the city so far has no involvement, his organization is fast at work with its letter of approval.

“We certainly, as a town and as an organization, do not want to see this land get lost to a development,” Rioux said. “Not everything should be for auction, not everything should be on the chopping block.”

 He said one of the biggest goals for his group and others concerned with the acquisition is to put together a case for support of the Land for Maine’s future program. Letters from Maine congressional delegates, he said, will make their case all the more concrete.

“It is a competitive program, there are a lot of parcels in the state that people are looking to preserve, but none like this,” Rioux said.

Wolfe Tone, of the Trust for Public Land in Portland, said his organization is currently exploring the opportunity, but he is hesitant to support the project if the land is not made open to the public.

“Groups like the Friends of Rachel Carson have a track record of not allowing lands to be used by the public,” Tone said.

Bradbury said he anticipates the land to be open to the public.

“The intent is to acquire this property and then allow the land to enhance the educational and recreation opportunities for all of the communities involved,” Bradbury said. 

To contact Stowell P. Watters call 282-4337 ext. 219 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.