Kennebunkport eyes purchase of first public boat launch: 'Golden opportunity'

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — A proposal to establish the town’s first public boat launch will be on the ballot during the annual town meeting in June.

The Kennebunkport Select Board and Budget Board have voted to authorize a $275,000 purchase-and-sale agreement between the town and Howard and Louise Mooney, who own the parcel and have had it in their family for many generations. The proposed purchase is now in the hands of voters.

“This is a golden opportunity,” Select Board Chair Ed Hutchins said during a meeting on March 30.

Currently, there is a boat launch in Cape Porpoise, but it is privately owned and the town can only use it in a limited capacity, according to Hutchins.

A local study committee, formed by the Select Board in October, looked at many public and private sites before determining the Mooney one to be preferable for a public boat launch, Hutchins said.

“This was determined to be the best and, really, only spot in Cape Porpoise that would meet the needs of the commercial fishermen and the residents alike,” Hutchins said.

Hutchins said the purchase, if approved by taxpayers, will not affect the town’s mill rate, as the funds will come from the town’s capital reserve account.

“The town already has the money,” Hutchins said. “We just need the approval of the voters to expend it.”

Boat launch project has been in the works for over year

The town reached out to the Mooneys about possibly purchasing their parcel about a year ago and recently came to an agreement, according to Hutchins.

Selectman Jon Dysktra served on the committee that conducted the site search. Dykstra told the boards that the committee looked at 17 potential sites and took the ownership, tidal range, accessibility, shelter from the ocean and parking opportunities of each one into account. The committee also took into account the potential building costs of sites, as well as the impacts to abutters and the likelihood of whether the state Department of Environmental Protection would approve of the site.

The proposed site on Langsford Road is about a third of a mile from Cape Porpoise’s town center, according to Dykstra. A working boat launch ramp already exists on the property.

“It is an operational site now,” Dykstra said. “It is secured. There is no immediate need to do a significant amount of work — but that would have to be looked at in the future.”

The town’s launch would be for trailered boats only, according to Dykstra. It also would be a “dump and go,” with no parking allowed on site or along Langsford Road, Dykstra added.

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The town would control the launch by requiring people to get some form of registration to use it, Dykstra said. He added the town has not determined yet whether there would be a registration fee.

At the moment, the intent for the launch is to have it be for residents only and for individuals with moorings in Cape Porpoise, according to Hutchins.

Dykstra said it is possible the town also may develop schedules for boat launches, so the site does not become congested with users.

A marine railway adjacent to the site is not a part of the property and agreement, as it belongs to the Langsford Road Lobster Company.

Howard Mooney spoke during the March 30 meeting. He said he and his wife feel blessed by what they have and wanted to give back to the community.

“Frankly, we were quite pleased with this opportunity,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kennebunkport, Maine eyes first public boat launch