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Select Board tables Topsham ATV access request, orders stakeholder workshop
Summary
After residents raised safety and notification concerns, the Topsham Select Board unanimously moved to table a proposal to designate 0.8 miles of Route 201 as an ATV access route and asked staff to convene a workshop before reconsideration on Sept. 3.
The Topsham Select Board on Aug. 7 heard a contested public hearing on a proposal by local trail riders to designate 0.8 miles of Route 201 as a state-recognized ATV access route, then unanimously voted to table the item and convene a stakeholder workshop.
Jenny Little, who identified herself as the lead of the Topsham Trail Riders, told the board the designation would reconnect the club’s east and west trail systems and operate under MDOT rules. “I wanna thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight in regard to our request seeking the town of Topson's support to pursue a main DOT ATV access route designation, specifically along 0.8 miles of Route 201,” she said. Little said the club had secured landowner permission and worked with town officials on safety and enforcement plans.
Several nearby residents urged caution. David Sharon, a former landowner of the parcel in question, said prior trail use produced “problems, chaos and situations” for neighbors and noted a purchase-and-sale provision he said required CMP to maintain the gate in a locked state since 2016. Susanna Sharon, who lives about 140–150 feet from the gate, described noise, trespass and safety incidents and said she was not notified in time to attend the hearing.
Board members and staff discussed MDOT’s application steps, likely road and speed studies, and enforcement options such as daylight-only access, cameras and periodic police checks. Chief Mark Hagan said MDOT typically wants a road study and looks at the 85th-percentile speeds; he reported a recent nearby study showing 85% of traffic at 53 mph where the limit is 50.
Given the competing perspectives, the board asked staff to organize a limited stakeholder workshop—representatives of the trail club, affected landowners, police, public works staff and select board members—to draft proposed conditions that could support an MDOT application. Mike Lavey moved to table the item to the Sept. 3 meeting and form the workshop; the motion, seconded by Anne Callahan, passed unanimously.
Next steps: staff will contact stakeholders to schedule the workshop and return recommendations to the board for Sept. 3. The board’s tabling is a referral to develop conditions rather than a final approval or denial of the MDOT application.
