Mitchell Field Upgrades

Written by Tom Allen | 30 October 2009

Shortly after Harpswell town meeting approved a Master Plan for Mitchell Field two years ago, the Mitchell Field Implementation Committee began working to realize the goals outlined in that plan. Among the objectives laid out were increasing access, bringing business to the site, and setting aside parts of the property for open space and for an affordable housing complex.
Number one on the committee's to-do list for the property was increasing access. The first step, carried out in the spring of 2008, was to remove the fence along the waterfront to allow use of the beach. That was closely followed by the renovation of the gate on Route 123.
Rob Roarke has been on the committee for about a year and a half. He says that the removal of the chain link and barbed wire fencing at both the entrance and waterfront has dramatically changed the feel of the property.
"It doesn't look like a prison anymore," Roarke says.
After a two-week trial last spring, Mitchell Field is now open to vehicle traffic from morning to evening. Roarke says that reaction to the opening has been generally positive. There have been more picnickers and beach-goers since that time, he says.
When the fence at the waterfront was taken down, some of the materials were recycled to gate off the pier. The causeway was open, but access to the pier was still restricted. Now the committee hopes to remove that final restriction, by making the pier safe enough to be open to the public.
They have removed a number of attractive nuisances, such as electrical conduit and are at work eliminating tripping hazards and other dangers, such as decaying wooden ladders. Reusing material from the former fence, the group has begun to construct a railing. They hope to have the railing completed by early next summer, at which point the pier should then be open to visitors.

After a site evaluation, town's insurance carrier said that a railing was unnecessary from a liability standpoint, but the selectmen deemed that a railing would be prudent anyway.
Members of the committee note that some in town are impatient to start what they consider the most important part of the Master Plan: making the property pay for itself by bringing in business.
"Some people want to see the business development first, but this is a step we can do. We don't need a lot of legal work to do it, just get some willing hands and do it. We're doing what we can while we implement the rest of it," Roarke says.
Judith Redwine, Chair of the Implementation Committee, says there are at least two steps to business development: first, the portions to be used for development must be rezoned from waterfront residential to waterfront commercial. Second, a set of rules, or Performance Standards, must be developed so that prospective businesses know exactly what is expected of them.
The Master Plan proposes that business development be "marine related" and that it be "small." Other restrictions are even less concrete. The plan speaks of maintaining public access to the property and waterfront, and using any upgrades to the site, such as electrical or sewer, to enhance the public's use of the site. The prevention of noise, light, air, and groundwater pollution are also emphasized.
According to Redwine, Performance Standards would make these expectations concrete for any prospective businesses.
"We need very clear standards about the kind of noise, the kind of light, the size of the building, the kind of business that could be down here," Redwine says.
To that end, Town Planner Carol Tukey has secured a grant of $30,000 to hire a consultant to help the Committee draw up performance standards for Mitchell Field. These provisional standards would be discussed in a series of public hearings and then voted on in a future town meeting or special election.
"Someone coming in would say: Gee, I am a potential candidate or I'm not. So that we're not in a place where we've been before, where we go forward and realize that maybe it isn't going to fit. There's too much noise or too much traffic or whatever," Redwine says.
Since the process of developing Performance Standards may take some time, the selectmen have reviewed and are currently updating their own economic development procedures. Selectman Jim Henderson notes that the Implementation Committee members are sometimes approached by potential business developers but are unclear how to respond.
"We're trying to be responsive to prospective developers and get our guidelines in place as soon as possible," Henderson says.
Much work remains to complete the vision laid out by the Mitchell Field Master Plan. Other projects the committee might oversee include construction of a public boat ramp and mooring field. Roarke says that besides committee members, they have been fortunate to have other volunteers show up to help as well, but that they can always use more willing hands.
To get involved, contact the town office 833-5771.