Woolwich sets special town meeting on land buy
The Woolwich Select Board is recommending the town buy a little over two acres of mostly wooded property off George Wright Road from residents Dennis and Sylvia Fuller. Voters will consider the $69,000 purchase at a special town meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16.
Chairman David King Sr. explained the land would give the town a new Route 1 egress if state highway officials agree to dead end the road at the dike as part the state’s plan to replace the Station 46 bridge. King estimated the new entry point would be about three-eighths of a mile north of the present one and do away with the expense of the town having to replace a bridge and culvert on George Wright Road.
“It would also eliminate one of the more dangerous Route 1 intersections,” he said Monday night. “We’d also like to get (Maine Department of Transportation) to consider lowering the speed limit there to 45 miles per hour.” The current limit is 55 mph.
A year ago, MDOT announced plans to replace the two-lane Route 1 bridge near Taste of Maine Restaurant. The estimated $30 to $35 million project includes raising the roadway approximately five feet, which King said would add significantly to the town’s cost of replacing the George Wright Road bridge. MDOT’s project is slated to begin in 2022 and take more than a year to complete.
The town is offering the Fullers the fair market price for their property, added King. The board wants to hold the town meeting in the historic Nequasset Meetinghouse across from the town office to comply with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.
King said the planning board is drafting a town meeting article to amend the marijuana cultivation ordinance. The planning board requested the change and is working with the town attorney, he added. The proposed article will be taken up at the board’s next meeting.
In other business, the select board voted 4-1, Allen Green dissenting, to hire Seacoast Security Systems for $684 annually to provide security services for the municipal building and fire station. The board agreed to pay $3,798 for the installation of new security cameras.
Road Commissioner Jack Shaw told the board paving has been completed on Meadow Road. Temple Road paving will be put off until spring, he said.
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