02/14/06
Ski club gets nod to design proposed trail at Gull
Crest
Cape Nordic is taking herringbone steps toward their goal of establishing
a groomed cross-country skiing course in Cape Elizabeth.
At their meeting Feb. 13, the Town Council gave the club the go-ahead to
design and flag a 2.5-kilometer ski trail utilizing existing trails in the
Gull Crest area, between Spurwink Avenue and the Town Center.
In December, the club approached the town with the idea to establish a local
cross-country skiing trail for school and club competitions as well as casual
skiing and other use. Club members say that the trails would also accommodate
all types of recreation, including hiking and running in non-winter months,
and snowmobiling and snowshoeing on the snow.
"If you are willing to go ahead and spend the money, take it to the next
step," said Town Council Chairman David Backer.
Cape Nordic representatives said the club has budgeted for a professional
designer to develop plans for the trail. Once flagged, the area would be
reviewed by the Town's Conservation Commission, the town planner, local
snowmobile club and other parties interested in development of the trail.
Town officials have made clear that there are no municipal dollars available
for the trail's development. Cape Nordic is proposing to contribute funding
for the design and volunteer labor for clearing the kilometer of the proposed
course that is not already opened.
Since their initial presentation to the council in December, Cape Nordic
has been meeting with Cape Elizabeth's snowmobile club to assure a trail
system that will work for everyone, said club organizer Muzzy Barton. "We
want to work with the entire community," Barton said. Snowmobile club president
Jack Roberts told councilors that the groups are looking to share the trails,
perhaps imposing speed limits on snowmobilers on shared areas and limiting
them to one side of the trail.
Councilor Anne Swift-Kayatta in particular was concerned about the club's
budget for clearing and maintaining the trail, something that club organizers
said cannot be developed before the trail is designed. Swift-Kayatta said
the council would also be looking for methods and a time-table for fund-raising.
The club is counting on keeping the proposed trail out of wetland areas,
but Town Planner Maureen O'Meara said that adding the trail would mean the
Gull Crest Master Plan would need to be re-approved by the state Department
of Environmental Protection. The length of that process would depend on funding
and on available staff time, she said.
Cape Nordic plans to have the proposed trail flagged and reviewed by interested
parties, including the Conservation Commission, town planner, and snowmobile
club, and return to the council with budgetary information in April.
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