By J.W. Oliver
Dresden Planning Board Chairman Jeffrey Pierce (center) fields a question about a proposal for a boat ramp on the Kennebec River during a site walk Sunday, June 14. A public hearing about the proposal will take place at Pownalborough Hall at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 23. (J.W. Oliver photo) |
The Dresden Planning Board will hold a public hearing about a proposal to build a public boat ramp at the site of the old Dresden- Richmond bridge on Tuesday, June 23. The hearing will commence at Pownalborough Hall at 6:30 p.m.
The planning board conducted a site walk with several members of the public present Sunday, June 14.
Reed & Reed has agreed to build the boat ramp free of charge, according to Dresden Planning Board Chairman Jeffrey Pierce. The project would otherwise cost the town approximately $120,000.
As it stands, the town would have to pay a possible $20,000 fee for environmental impacts. Voters agreed to appropriate the money from surplus at town meeting Saturday, June 13.
Reed & Reed, of Woolwich, landed a $14.3 million contract to build the new Dresden-Richmond bridge and remove the old one in 2013. The new bridge opened Dec. 5, 2014. Reed & Reed expects to complete demolition of the old bridge this summer.
A boat ramp under consideration for the site of the old Dresden- Richmond bridge would extend roughly to the far concrete blocks, according to Dresden Planning Board Chairman Jeffrey Pierce. Boaters could launch large boats at the ramp for four to five hours around every high tide. (J.W. Oliver photo) |
“The town of Dresden has been seeking a boat launch for a long time,” Pierce said. “I thought it was a really nice goodwill gesture for (Reed & Reed) to offer to do this.”
The planning board fielded questions – primarily from two neighbors – about how the boat ramp might affect their property value, where vehicles with trailers would park, and who would police the boat ramp and pick up trash.
Members of the public also asked about maintenance expenses and whether Dresden needs a boat ramp with water access available across the river in Richmond.
The town will ask the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police to add the boat ramp to their patrols, according to Pierce.
The town will post signs to encourage visitors to “carry in, carry out,” according to Pierce. He and another planning board member offered to personally pick up litter at the site if it becomes a problem.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife would maintain the gravel surface of the ramp, according to Pierce. The ramp would measure about 16 feet wide and 90 feet long.
The boat ramp would dramatically improve response time in the event of an emergency on the river. The firehouse with its rescue boats is nearly visible from the site. “They can be here so quick,” Pierce said.
“I think it’s a good project,” he said before the site walk wrapped up.
