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Joint session on Connecting Kennebunk recommends subcommittee, master plan and ADA-accessible trail approach
Summary
At a June 1 joint session, presenter Jen Shack said a proposed floating bridge is likely too large for the terrain and urged a master plan and a subcommittee; Alison Malmqvist and Beth Sandmire will represent the Climate Action Committee while the group prepares site photos, utility checks and grant applications next year.
Jen Shack led a joint discussion of the Connecting Kennebunk initiative at the Climate Action Committee meeting on June 1, saying recent drone photos taken by KLT show the proposed floating bridge concept is likely infeasible for the current terrain and that the group should develop a formal master plan before pursuing large engineering work.
"The floating bridge seems to be too big of project—the terrain is more difficult than initially thought," Jen Shack said, and she recommended a smaller-scale approach and broader visioning to allow the Maine Department of Transportation to help with significant elements of the plan.
Why it matters: committee members said a master plan would clarify needs, reduce costly redesigns, and make the project more competitive for grants. Jen Shack said the committee should involve KLT and loop in town staff early; she also reported that Chris O indicated willingness to speak with the committee in the fall and approved developing a subcommittee to advance preliminary work.
The committee outlined a concrete action plan for the subcommittee: take corridor photos; define desired project outcomes (for example, considering a gravel path instead of a bridge); invite Sandy from KLT to participate; ask staff to identify sewer or utility pipes that run along the bridle path; and visit existing ADA-accessible multi-use trails such as the Alewife trail to learn from examples. Shack emphasized that making a path ADA-accessible "will increase funding availability" and recommended multi-use design while noting a preference in the discussion to exclude electric bikes for that section.
Alison Malmqvist and Beth Sandmire were identified as the Climate Action Committee representatives to the proposed subcommittee. Joshua Tabor said he would draft an email recommending that transportation actions already in the town's Comprehensive Plan be enacted to help move the work forward.
Next steps: the committee will form the subcommittee (per the agreed representation), gather site photos and utility information, visit model trails, and pursue applicable grants next year. Chris O is expected to meet with the group in the fall to discuss engineering needs.
