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Home > Sears Island Initiative > Meeting Schedule > June 24 Meeting Notes

Sears Island Planning Initiative
Open Space Public Planning Meeting

Hutchinson Center
Belfast, Maine
June 24, 2006

Transcription of Notes from Flip Charts developed at the Open Space meeting

Proposed Discussion Groups:
10:00 – 11:30 (RM 101)
Develop Wildlife as an entertainment venue commercially viable Emotional – rational

10:00 – 11:30 (RM 102)
Restore the causeway to its natural state

10:00 – 11:30 (RM 103 A)
Who stands to profit from development of Sears Island?

10:00 – 11:30 (104A)
What is the true full economic value of Sears Island?

10:00 – 11:30 (RM 104 B)
Who owns Sears Island?

10:00 – 11:30 (106A)
Developing Sears Island as a managed Nature park
Eco Tourism – Valve of protecting wilderness
Preserving Sears Island in its current state for public recreation
Eliminating heavy industry as an option
Developing trails (hiking) while preserving a wild feel

10:00 11:30 (Atrium Nook)
Quality of life

10:00 – 11:30 (Auditorium)
What is the best use of Sears Island to improve the economic competitiveness of the State of Maine?

12:30 – 2:00 (Atrium Nook)
How are decisions about Sears Island going to be made?
Who has the final say? (And why?)

12:30 – 2:00 (RM 101)
History – Pre-history

12:30 – 2:00 (RM 102)
Inter modal trans and economic development

12:30 – 2:00 (RM 103A)
Global warming and Sears Island

12:30 -2:00 (Auditorium)
Sustainability
Creative Economy – The environment

2:00 – 2:30 (RM 104 B)
Impact of any Development on Fisheries

Transcription of Flip Chart Notes from Actual Breakout Discussion Groups:

Group #1 (Note: Groups #s are assigned for identification purposes only)

10:00 – 11:30 (104A)
Topic: What is the true full economic value of Sears Island?

(Page 1)
Interests of participants:
Transportation, nature view, hiking, education, energy, seafood, fishing, swimming, port capacity, sustainable, green development, broad range of economic concerns, Searsport Harbor, local tax base, global warming, shipping, RR efficiencies community decision making, value of tourism, impact of development on Sears Island tourism, protection of ecosystem, estuaries, wilderness, public access to shoreline, ecological economy, direct/indirect economic values, island as unique site for education center. (? - refuge)

(Page 2) Economic capacity of Mack Point for Port/transportation needs
  • # 50 ac. On Mack Point for added capacity
  • What to do when that 50 ac is fully utilized?
    1. Sears Island at NW quadrant is best place for future capacity
    2. RR will need that additional capacity for continuing to exist ( with broad client base
    3. But how can we protect this need over such a long period?
    4. Need full economic analysis
  • Is shipping declining or increasing? DG increasing # of ships are docking
  • Can Mack Point expand?
    1. Add dockage?
    2. Add land for on shore facilities?
    3. To Obtain permits is a problem-- more dredging necessary at Mack Point than at Sears Island
(Page 3) * Is this compromise possible:
If environmental community gave up resistance to expansion needs of Mack Point, would port development community give up resistance to fully undeveloped Sears Island?
  • No – These groups do not actually issue the needed permits
  • But this should not be taken off table for Steering Committee’s deliberations
  • Disposal of dredge spoils would be a battle with fishing interests since would be at Rockland disposal site
(Page 4) *Beyond port development, what other economic potentials of Sears Island?
  • As a State Park
  • Whatever is done needs jobs paying more than minimum wage for next generations
  • For tourism economy/creative economy – keep Maine’s uniqueness of scenic beauty
  • Other industrial development potential on Sears Island (besides a cargo port)?
    1. Fisheries development
    2. Aquaculture
    3. Hatchery
    4. Marine research lab
  • Educational facility
  • What is compatible? What can co-exist?
Group # 2

10:00 – 11:30 (RM 101)

Topic: Developing Sears Island as a managed Nature park
Eco Tourism – Value of protecting wilderness
Preserving Sears Island in its current state for public recreation
Eliminating heavy industry as an option
Developing trails (hiking) while preserving a wild feel
Link between the creative economy and environment

Convener’s name: Jay Economy, Don White
Participants: Jim Freeman, Jaye Martin, Bob Ramsdell, Harlan McLaughlin, Susan Lauchlan, James Gillway, Pam Tetley, Gail Chase

Main Points for Steering Committee consideration:
  1. Managed by state agency, land trust, local friends group
  2. Use ENTIRE island for eco tourism supporting services off island
  3. Study effects of past alterations. i.e. causeway – tower – filled in wet lands and establish restoration goals persistent with preserving natural ecology
Developing Sears Island as a Managed Nature Park: (work sheet)
  • Short nosed sturgeon
  • Increased quality of fish nursery from wetlands
  • Economic for upper bay
  • Access to Coastline
  • Trails + Improvement (like Searsport Shores)
  • Non motorized rec. area
  • WILD NO INDUSTRIALIZATION
  • Parking? (off island?)
  • Causeway (go or stay?)
  • Move form DOT to DOC
  • Handicapped access
  • Creative economy
Group #3 10:00 – 11:30 (RM 102)

Breakout topic: Restore causeway to its natural state
Convener’s name: Susan Lauchlan
Participants: Joan Saxe
Main points for Steering Committee Consideration:
  1. Restoring to natural state which is tidal causeway and access to ebbing tide
  2. Allow the flow of water to return to natural ecology fort eh health of clam-flats, fishing…
  3. Contributes to the preservation of the unique ecosystem
Group #4

10:00 11:30 (Atrium Nook)
Quality of life

Breakout session Topic: Development of Sears Island impact on quality of life
Convener’s name: Jan Flint
Participants: Jan, Bindy Pendleton, Joan Saxe, Dianne Smith
Main Points for Steering Committee consideration
  1. Develop guiding principles (mission statement) for Sears Island
  2. Identify and abide by the regions quality of life value
  3. Development proposals need to meet the “7 generations test” (sustainability)
Group # 5

10:00 – 11:30 (RM 103 A)
Who stands to profit from development of Sears Island? (Marietta Ramsdell, ?, Zaven Koltookian, Donna Gilbert, Jim Wadsworth)
Who profits from different types of development?
The group developed the following matrix set of questions which could/should be used to analyze any future proposal for development of Sears Island:

Who would profit: Transportation Ecotourism Education None
State
Region/Midcoast
Local population
Private corporations

Criteria:
  1. Transparency of negotiations
  2. Economic and environmental benefits to be local and sustainable
Participants:
Mike Reynolds
Marshall Mittick
Marietta Ramsdell
Donna Gilbert
Zaven Koltookien
Karen Saum
Betsy Garrold

Group # 6

12:00 – 2:00 (RM 104 B)
Impact on Fisheries

Participants:
Larry Litchfield, Lynn Cottrell, Jim Freeman, Bob Ramsdell, David Black, Gail Chase, Jaye Martin, Susan White, David Gelinas, Wayne Hamilton)
Main points for Steering Committee consideration:
  1. Nursery stock area for the bay
  2. Speed bumps (kayaks)
  3. Loss of shellfish beds
  4. Shipping – Traffic mgmt???? In place
  5. Invasive species ballast discharge
  6. High speed ferries
  7. Chemical pollution
  8. Hatches + aquaculture
  9. Educational Center
Group #7

12:30 – 2:00 (RM 102)

Breakout topic: Inter modal transportation and economic development

Convener’s name: Jonathan Daniels

Participants:
Stan Moses
Bob Grindrod
Wayne Hamilton
Jane Sanford
Mike Reynolds
Jay Economy
Bob Ramsdell
David Peppas
Jim Therriault
Libby Wiswall
Karen Saum
John Wardwell
Steve Whitcomb
David Black
Jim Freeman
Joan Saxe
Marietta Ramsdell
Dianne Smith
Joe Perry
Susan Lauchlan
Dick Desmarais
Ben Crimaudo
Phyllis Coelho
James Gillway
Ben Fuller
Betsy (????)

Main Points for Steering Committee consideration:
Several potential customers for Intermodal transportation – Definition
Multiple means/ methods of transporting goods; for Sears Island – ships, trucks, rail
Also includes: passenger trails. Ferry, dike etc…
Use of port at Mack Point; if a few did, capacity of port would be fully utilized
Need a container port on Sears Island because not fully compatible with break-bulk process at Mack Point; likely for medium-size container ships
Need to know current Mack Point capacity vs. potential new shipping needs
RR envisions rail onto Sears Island and a container port facility (docks, container, cranes) but not warehouses. Might also be some truck traffic
Why not build a container port at Mack Point?
However: we might not know now what the most preferred forms of transportation might be in the near future due to energy costs

What are alternate sites for a container port facility? Long Cove dredging required
Why do we need to make any decision about a port on Sears Island or elsewhere now?
Some feel must keep options open on Sears Island; that does not (mean) make a decision now to build a port, just keep that option open

These points were not reached by consensus or vote
Recommendations:
  • Request data from Maine Port Authority or commission a private consultant to conduct a market study – on future shipping needs, status of current capacity etc…
  • Sears Island should continue to be an option for port use
  • Sears Island should become a nature preserve
  • Do nothing now; a decision is not fully informed now or possible
  • Need a plan now to deal with human impact on island (not including Potential industrial development)
Group #8

10:00 – 11:30 (Auditorium)
What is the best use of Sears Island to improve the economic competitiveness of the State of Maine?

Participants: Ben Crimaudo, Steve Whitcomb, Karen Saum, Jim Wadsworth, Phyllis Coelho, Larry Litchfield, John Wardwell, ?, ?, Frank Wiswall, LibbyWiswall, Dick Desmarais)

TOPIC:
How to best use Sears Island to aid the economy of Maine?
  1. If Sears Island is not left on the table as a port, the future economy of Maine is capped
  2. Why do economy, environment and tourism have to be either or? Why can’t there be a mix?
  3. Can we make things co-exist? How?
  4. There is room for expansion at Mack Point
  5. Why is Searsport US versus THEM?
  6. Study the example of Swedish co-existence in Gothenburg
  7. People need more info on the 3 part system
  8. Searsport ports are capital to the economies of northern and eastern Maine
  9. DO a market study for the ports
  10. Housing development, not info

Group #9

10:00 – 11:30 (RM 101)
Convener’s name: Jay White – Sandy Point

Breakout topic: Develop Wildlife as a commercially viable entertainment venue

Participants: Anne Crimaudo – Searsport

Bill – Sandy Point
Lynn Cottrell – Searsport
Ben Crimaudo – Searsport


WHAT EXISTS NOW IN BELFAST TO BUCKSPORT?
“The neighborhood”

Ice-cream vendors 10-12
Art galleries 25-35
Flea Markets 8-10
Restaurant 20-30
Gift/Antique 20-30
Wildlife 0

What does the consumer want? – Think like the targeted audience
NO BLATENT COMMERCIALISM – ANIMALS HAVE RIGHTS

Wildlife as a valuable entertainment venue:
Product life circle
Introductory
Growth } Reintroduce to people
Mature

Emulate other sites:

E.C. Darling – Florida
Gettysburg
IFDN.com
Irving forest
Discover natural

(Pie chart here: Half was called animals, ¼ was called consumer and the other ¼ vegetation)
Consumer is not a nasty word
Portal of entry needs to be more appealing

Main points for Steering Committee Consideration:
"Sears Island, not really a blank palette"
"If you build it, they will come"
"It’s here!!!"
"Preservation of habitat"
168 species of birds
37 species of mammals/amphibious
5 of 30 miles – open waterways
LOCALS want peace and quiet
VISITORS EXPERIENCE MAINE
PALATABLE - walk in woods

  • Tasteful signage
  • Observation towers
Hybrid nature park transportation
Romance our image

Group # 10

12:30 – 2:00 (Atrium Nook)

Topic: How are decisions about Sears Island going to be made?
Who has the final say? (And why?)

Convener’s name: Marshall Mittnick
Participants: Gail Chase, David Gelinas, Jim Wadsworth, Marshall Mittnick, Carolyn Pressley, Jaye Martin, Susan White, Jim Grossman, Larry Litchfield, Steve Miller, Peter Taber, Garry Kitchen, Donna Gilbert, Susan White, Larry Litchfield, Karen Saum

Main Points for steering Committee consideration:

  1. Draft report should be presented in an informational meeting for public dialogue
  2. Steering Committee’s report should include:
    • How decisions were made
    • How consensus was defined by the Committee
    • How to address an ongoing management structure
  3. Steering Committee Meetings should be more broadly advertised (Waldo County, Bangor/Augusta/Waterville etc… (Breakout sessions)
Group # 11

12:30 -2:00 (Auditorium)
Sustainability
Creative Economy – The environment
  1. Any plan for Sears Island must adhere to the guiding principles for sustaining or improving the environment and wildlife on the entire island as it exists now
  2. Any plan will demonstrate economic benefits to the region
  3. Create an oversight board made up of local friends groups + state agency + land trust
  4. To develop (to manage # 1) an acceptable land mgt plan



The following Over Arching Themes were compiled by Sue Inches and Jonathan Reitman as ones they identified as emerging from the day’s discussion. Toward the close of the day they were presented to the whole group circle. The group did not agree that they accurately represented the breakout group discussions, and chose not to vote on which of them had greatest priority. Rather, the group decided that the literal transcription of the flipcharts (above) would constitute the official record of the Open Space meeting, and that these themes would also be included as an addendum:
  1. The Steering Committee must Address Information Gaps with credible data
    • Mack Point Capacity
    • Shipping trends
    • Study of who profits from any proposed development
    • Economic value of non-cargo port development
    • Market analysis
  2. There was a Strong Concern for Preservation and habitat restoration on both the causeway and Sears Island itself
  3. In some groups there was a desire to find a balance between conservation and compatible economic development and fisheries
  4. There was support for creation of a people and nature friendly ecotourism experience. There was broad agreement that this must be promoted and well managed.
  5. There is a need for coordinated management of Sears Island uses (both current and future). We can’t just “do nothing.”
  6. There is a need to develop guiding principles and values to guide any future development of Sears Island, to ensure any development is sustainable.
  7. The Steering Committee process and decision making should be open and transparent.