Resolve, Authorizing Certain Land Transactions by the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Preamble. The Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 23 requires that real estate held by the State for conservation or recreation purposes may not be reduced or its uses substantially altered except on the vote of 2/3 of all members elected to each House; and

Whereas,  the real estate authorized for conveyance by this resolve is under the designations described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 598-A; and

Whereas,  the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may sell or exchange lands with the approval of the Legislature in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, sections 1837 and 1851; and

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation is important to the immediate and long-term economic health of the Town of Washburn and of Aroostook County; and

Whereas,  this legislation is important to the safety of the public that uses the multipurpose trail system in the Town of Washburn and to the safety of the public that uses the roadways near that trail system; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands authorized, but not directed, to exchange certain land in the Town of Washburn, Aroostook County. Resolved: That the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may by quitclaim deed convey to the Town of Washburn the property southwest of the intersection of Main Street, Route 164, and Gardiner Creek Road constituting a segment of the Aroostook Valley Trail from where it joins the Bangor and Aroostook Trail, both being state-owned trails used for motorized recreation, in exchange for conveyance of the property west and north of the intersection of Main Street, Route 164, and Riverside Drive, now owned by the Town of Washburn, constituting a new stretch of trail corridor 60 feet wide, on which the Town of Washburn must have built a new trail making a connection between the 2 trails according to specifications provided by the Bureau of Parks and Lands prior to this conveyance.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve authorizes the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands to exchange land along Main Street, Route 164, in the Town of Washburn for a nearby piece of land in order to improve the safety of recreational travel on certain state-owned trails used for motorized recreation and allow the town to sell a parcel of land it owns to a national business for development.