Trust to raise $1M to buy land
6,109 acres eyed in Vienna, 3 other towns

By DAN McGILLVRAY, Special to the Kennebec Journal  

VIENNA — The group proposing to buy 6,109 acres of mostly undeveloped land in this area is planning a $1 million fund-raising drive to help with purchase costs, and to fund payments in lieu of taxes to four local towns.

At a presentation here on Tuesday night, a spokesman for the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance said most of the land within the Kennebec Highlands proposal is in Vienna. Other tracts are in Rome, Mount Vernon and New Sharon.

"We want to keep this land undeveloped. There are six deer wintering yards, five waterfowl breeding areas and five undeveloped ponds in this area," said alliance president Dennis Phillips. Vienna selectmen asked him to discuss the project with residents.

The Land for Maine's Future Board on March 4 endorsed the first phase of the plan, which totaled 1,047 acres. The board also set aside $200,000 to assist with appraisals and initial purchases.

Of the four towns, Vienna stands to lose the most in property taxes if the nonprofit alliance completes the purchases and then turns the property over to the state Bureau of Public Lands.

"We're a small town and we're talking about a significant loss of revenues. If there are lost revenues, my taxes go up," said village resident Phil Gregory. After checking tax files in the Town House, he said Vienna could lose about $24,000 in property taxes if the land moves from private to public ownership.

Phillips said the alliance would likely reimburse the town for lost income at a rate equal to that in the tree growth tax category.

"We already own 400 acres of land and we pay what amounts to about 25 percent of assessed value. It can't be lower than tree growth," said Phillips. Most of the 3,342 acres in town that would be part of the total land purchase is currently in tree growth, said selectmen.

Gregory questioned whether the alliance would be able to maintain those annual reimbursements into the future. The state also could help by sending some money to Vienna that would come from selective timber cutting on the property, Phillips said.

The alliance has estimated that from $2 to $2.5 million will be needed to buy the 6,109 acres. Only a scattering of homes are on the hilly property, and most land currently is owned by timber companies and blueberry businesses.

The second phase of the Kennebec Highlands plan is expected to be submitted to the state board next year if the board's treasury is replenished with additional money. Gov. Angus King has recommended a $50 million bond package for future land purchases.

Phillips said the alliance, which is lumping both phases together for planning purposes, will launch a $1 million fund-raising campaign this year. The money will be used as a matching fund to help with land purchases and to establish an endowment for payments in lieu of taxes to the towns and for land maintenance costs, he explained.

Gregory said he is also concerned about a possible increase in local traffic coming off Route 41 if the Kennebec Highlands proposal is successful. Phillips, a Rome resident, said there would be no directional signs or promotional campaigns to increase awareness of the area.

Ed Hinckley, who has worked with Phillips on the project, said local residents and state officials have a unique opportunity to protect a significant natural resource from development.

"If we don't hang onto it, it's not going to be there 100 years from now," he said. Hinckley owns land off Vienna Mountain Road in the area of the proposed purchase.

Phillips said that traditional uses of the land would continue if Kennebec Highlands is established. Blueberry companies would be able to pick the crop, through agreements, and tree harvesting woul continue under state supervision, said Phillips. And visitors would still be able to hike, hunt, fish, ride snowmobiles and ski on the property, he added.

The land proposed for purchase includes the two highest hills in Kennebec County and shoreline frontage in Rome along Long Pond and Watson Pond.

Besides the 3,342 acres in Vienna, the group envisions buying 2,176 acres in Rome, 385 acres in New Sharon and 206 acres in Mount Vernon. A large part of the tract is visible by looking west from Belgrade Lakes Village.