Prices hold in final Wiscasset boardwalk report

Wed, 08/26/2015 - 1:00pm

A Topsham engineering firm’s final report to Wiscasset on a boardwalk or shoreline path keeps the costs at earlier projections for all the options explored.

The paved, six-foot-wide shoreline path, which drew mixed comments last spring, would cost about $120,000; a 15-foot-wide boardwalk on the shore, $800,000; and a 15-foot-wide boardwalk over the Sheepscot River, $680,000, according to the report from Wright-Pierce.

The firm found that both boardwalk options would be better than the shoreline path for accommodating bicycles, and be less flood-prone; but they would have more of an impact on the view from abutting properties, and have more permitting hurdles.

The Wiscasset Waterfront Committee will review the report on Sept. 1, Town Planner Jamel Torres said. The meeting at the municipal building starts at 5 p.m.

A shoreline path would impact the view from Le Garage restaurant and could limit the types of employers interested in buying Coastal Enterprises’ buildings on Water Street, Le Garage owner Cheryl Rust told the committee in April.

Some committee members voiced support for doing a project in order to build on what Wiscasset has now, such as the beauty of the Sheepscot River, rather than doing nothing.

The town and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Shore and Harbor Technical Assistance grant program funded the design work.

As with Wright-Pierce’s earlier report, the one up for review Sept. 1 cites a series of state programs as possible funding sources to help get a boardwalk or path built. Most grants require a local match, the report states.

It also suggests the town consider tapping its capital improvement and tax incentive funds, or using bonds. “(While) local bonds can be less favorable politically, they could be a practical and ... feasible opportunity to fund recreation and conservation efforts,” the report states.

Torres declined to say Aug. 24 if he had an opinion yet on what, if any, next steps the committee should recommend to selectmen in connection with the report. He wants to hear what the committee has to say, he said.