City Hall·Portland Land Bank Commission
Land Bank Commission reviews 12-acre option, CMP line concerns
The Portland Land Bank Commission met October 14 and discussed a letter from a property owner willing to sell about 12 acres of undeveloped land, including a possible six- to 12-month option, pending survey and appraisal. Commissioners also raised concerns about a CMP transmission upgrade near the Presumpscot River Preserve and heard updates on the Portland House and Murray Street parcels, the annual report, and the treasurer's balance.
Key points
- Commissioners reviewed a signed letter of willingness to sell roughly 12 acres, including about four acres near the highway, with the owner open to a six- to 12-month option; due diligence, survey, and appraisal are still needed.
- Staff said a U.S. Forest Service grant of up to $300,000 could help acquire forested land but requires a one-to-one match and a Yellow Book appraisal, which could add time.
- Commissioners discussed a CMP proposal to add a 115-kilovolt line along an existing easement near the Presumpscot River Preserve, with concerns about tree clearing and herbicide spraying; staff suggested inviting CMP to brief the commission.
- Staff reported Portland House is pursuing an appraisal and survey of about two acres of woods it may sell to the land bank, with an update expected next month.
- The treasurer's report listed an estimated balance of $702,717, including allocations for Davis Pines, the Skywater boat launch, and the North Deering Park endowment.
- The annual report is expected in draft in November, with comments in December and finalization by the end of the year; the priority projects appendix is due for cleanup.
Next steps
- Draft the annual report for November, gather comments in December, and finalize by year's end.
- Invite CMP, possibly community programs manager Jay Chase, to brief the commission on transmission plans.
- Trace the CMP corridor to identify affected land bank properties before the end of October public comment deadline.
- Revisit the Murray Street and Portland House parcels at a future meeting.
- Reconcile the Davis Pines allocation once pending spending is complete.
Where this came from
City of Portland, ME Meetings Portal
The summary and transcript were made by software from the public meeting video, with names checked against the official roster, then reviewed before publishing.
Watch the meeting ↗The summary and transcript were made by software from the public meeting video, with names checked against the official roster, then reviewed before publishing.