The Conservation Commission is recommending a series of steps for the Town to take toward formalizing legal pedestrian access to Great Pond, the largest fresh-water body in Cape Elizabeth and a significant natural and recreational resource.

The Town Council will consider the recommendations in a workshop meeting Thursday, Feb. 12.

The pond is a popular destination for Town residents, but legal public access is unclear. After reviewing existing conditions, contacting abutters and gathering input during a public forum, the Conservation Commission has outlined seven steps the Town might take to formalize legal access off of Fenway Road, to protect the Great Pond resource, and to otherwise clarify physical access.

First among their recommendations is for the town to accept a deed being offered by Antonio Palanza, one of the original subdividers of the Fenway Road development, for a 40-foot wide strip of land that leads from the end of the cul-de-sac at the end of Fenway Road to land owned by the Sprague Corp. "If this deed is accepted by the Town Council, then the public would have the right to walk from the end of the cul-de-sac to the Sprague Corp. land," says the report prepared by the Conservation Commission.

The Sprague Corp., which owns the majority of land surrounding the pond, has provided the Town with pedestrian easements over "existing trails" between Fenway Road and Great Pond. The exact location of these trails however is unclear and the commission is also recommending the Town work with the Sprague Corp. to delineate the trails. As a way to protect the pond from possible dangers from motor boats, the commission is further recommending that the Sprague easement prohibit the transportation of motorized boats or boat motors over the easement, according to the recommendations.

The commission is also recommending further collaboration with the Sprague Corp. on creating a designated boat storage area a reasonable distance from the pond, but away from the path leading to the pond where canoes and rowboats have traditionally been left.

The commission also considered parking facilities for the pond, but after evaluating public comment they have concluded that existing casual parking arrangements are adequate and are generally acceptable to the neighbors. The Conservation Commission is recommending that on-street parking on one side of Fenway Road, with no parking in the cul-de-sac, continue to be available.

Once legal access is established, the final steps being recommended are to install Greenbelt signs that would encourage users to stay on designated trails; and, for the Town to continue talks with owners of property along the east side of Great Pond to obtain easements for public access over existing trails to join with the Great Pond trail leading in from Bowery Beach Road.

The commission's recommendations are accompanied by documentation from their Great Pond Access Public Forum supporting their conclusions.

In accepting the report, town councilors thanked and lauded the Conservation Commission for their thorough work and investigation in formulating the recommendations. "The Conservation Commission has really put out a lot of work on this, I think it's been very well done," said Councilor Carol Fritz.

Consideration of the Great Pond access recommendations is among several items on the agenda for the Feb. 12 workshop, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall:

Cape Elizabeth Town Council

Workshop Agenda

Thursday, February 12, 2004

7:30 p.m.

Cape Elizabeth Town Hall

1. Jordan Farm Easement-Cape Elizabeth Land Trust

2. Great Pond Access

3. Town Owned Lands

4. Sewer Map Discussion

5. Tax Cap Proposal by Maine Taxpayer Action Network

6. Apartment lease at 343 Ocean House Road

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• Conservation Commission to hold public forum on access to Great Pond Nov. 19