By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

The Scarborough Town Council agreed to a controversial land exchange with the Lighthouse Motel on Pine Point Road during the July 15 meeting. 

The land swap involved widening the corridor on Depot Street, giving better access for residents toward the beach, as well as eliminating 300 feet of Pine Point Road, with the town owning the right of way to the beach.

Previously, the town owned a corridor directly abutting the motel building, which extended to the water mark at Pine Point Beach. The corridor was also sandwiched by property owned by Peter and Nicholas Truman, owners of the motel. The Trumans also owned another piece of land on the other side of the corridor, which led to the beach.

The first agenda item involved the acceptance of the fee of the land by the Trumans. A motion was made to table the item, but failed, and the item passed with a 4-3 vote. Town Councilors Judy Roy, Carol Rancourt and Karen D’Andrea voted against the item.

Item two involved approving the acceptance of a release deed from the Trumans to the town, which passed by a 5-2 vote. Councilors D’Andrea and Rancourt voted against the item.

The third item involved the approval to release the town-owned land to the Trumans. A motion was once again made to table the item, but failed again. The item passed by a vote of 5-2, with councilors D’Andrea and Rancourt voting no.

The final vote was on the elimination of 300 feet of Pine Point Road, which included another motion to table, but again failed. The council passed the item with a 5-2 vote, with D’Andrea and Rancourt again voting against it.

According to agenda descriptions, the town attorney must approve items one, two and three even though they were passed, as they involve legal documents.

Each item included a public hearing, during which several Pine Point Residents voiced displeasure with the town over the move. Among the speakers was Maine Rep. Sean Flaherty, who said he was not in favor of the land swap, and asked councilors to use a more public process to make a better decision on what to do with the land.

“If the purpose is to improve public access, we don’t have a plan yet,” Flaherty said.

Town Clerk Tody Justice said a petition was sent to town hall including signatures of more than 400 residents who were against the land swap. Justice said of that number, more than 200 were registered town voters. She said the petition was to not seek legal action, but to simply voice displeasure of residents.

Staff writer Dave Dyer can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 219